NBC News' Dan Slepian and criminal justice advocate Jon-Adrian "JJ" Velazquez to headline Sept. 19 celebration supporting Michigan's only post-conviction DNA innocence organization
LANSING, Mich. – As the Cooley Innocence Project marks 25 years of restoring freedom to the wrongfully convicted, Cooley Law School has announced an expanded lineup of nationally recognized speakers for its 25th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Grewal Hall in downtown Lansing.
Joining previously announced keynote speaker Dan Slepian, the award-winning NBC News journalist, Dateline NBC producer, author, podcaster, whose reporting has helped expose wrongful convictions across the country, will be criminal justice advocate Jon-Adrian "JJ" Velazquez.
Together, Slepian and Velazquez represent two sides of the innocence movement: one dedicated to uncovering the truth through investigative journalism, and the other living the reality of a wrongful conviction while refusing to give up hope. Velazquez’ journey is featured in Slepian’s book “The Sing Sing Files” and is the subject of the podcast, “Letter’s From Sing Sing,” which was Pulitzer Prize finalist.
Wrongfully convicted of murdering a retired New York City police officer in 1998, Velazquez spent nearly 24 years in New York maximum-security prisons before his conviction was vacated. During his incarceration, he became a nationally respected advocate, educator, and mentor for incarcerated individuals and their families. Since his release, Velazquez has continued his work as a leading voice for criminal justice reform and wrongful conviction awareness. His remarkable story has gained national attention through documentaries, television appearances, and an upcoming feature film based on his life.
"The stories Dan Slepian and JJ Velazquez bring to our gala represent both the human cost of wrongful convictions and the life-changing impact of the innocence movement," said Ann Garant, co-director of the Cooley Innocence Project. "Their experiences reinforce why the work of the Cooley Innocence Project remains so important, not only for those we represent today, but for future generations committed to seeking justice."
Established in 2001, the Cooley Innocence Project is Michigan's only post-conviction DNA innocence organization and a member of the Innocence Network. During the past 25 years, the Project has screened more than 6,000 cases and is responsible for the exoneration of ten individuals to date: Kenneth Wyniemko (2003), Nathaniel Hatchett (2008), Donya Davis (2014), LeDura Watkins (2017), Corey McCall (2021), Kenneth Nixon (2021), Gilbert Poole (2021), George DeJesus (2022), Louis Wright (2023), and Dell Crawford (2026). It also helped to exonerate Lacino Hamilton (2020), Ramon Ward (2020), Terance Calhoun in 2022, Crystal Mulherin (2024), Duane Williams (2024), and George Calicut Jr. (2026).
"This anniversary is about more than celebrating our history," said Tracey Brame, co-director of the Cooley Innocence Project. "It is about investing in the future. Every ticket purchased and every sponsorship helps ensure that students continue receiving unparalleled hands-on legal education while helping pursue justice for individuals who may have been wrongfully convicted."
The Cooley Innocence Project 25th Anniversary Gala will be held:
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026
6:00 p.m.
Grewal Hall
224 S. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48933
Individuals and organizations are invited to participate through ticket purchases or sponsorship opportunities. Sponsorships provide an opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to justice while helping sustain the Project's mission of investigating wrongful convictions and educating future attorneys.
To purchase individual tickets, learn more about sponsorship opportunities, or support the Cooley Innocence Project, visit www.cooley.edu/innocence25.
Organizations interested in scheduling a presentation about the Cooley Innocence Project may contact Ann Garant at innocence@cooley.edu.
