“The Phantom” director, Patrick Forbes, joined the Montana Innocence Project for a Q&A following a free screening of the film at the Missoula Public Library on September 14. “The Phantom” tells the story of Carlos DeLuna, a man who was executed in 1989 for the murder of Wanda Lopez at a gas station in Corpus Christi, Texas. But evidence uncovered by a Columbia University law professor and his team revealed mounting evidence of DeLuna’s innocence. In the Q&A, Forbes spoke with MTIP Executive Director, Amy Sings In The Timber, about the death penalty, the process of filming the documentary in Corpus Christi, and issues relating to official misconduct and racism against Hispanic and LatinX people in the criminal legal system.
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We are excited to share the news that the United States District Court for the District of Montana, Missoula Division found in favor of our client Katie Garding yesterday on her claim that she received ineffective assistance of counsel, violating her Sixth Amendment right to counsel. This decision means Katie’s conviction could be overturned! Read more at the link in our bio.
The Montana Supreme Court affirmed the denial of our client Aaron Oliphant’s Petition for Post Conviction Relief. Read more at the link in our bio, and please keep the Oliphants in your thoughts.
Read our 2022 Annual Report at the link in our bio!
Council of State Governments researchers Alison Martin and Matt Herman sat down with us to discuss racial equity and increasing race data availability in Montana’s criminal legal system. Listen at the link in our bio or by searching “Unpacking Injustice” on most podcast listening platforms!
Check out the story linked in our bio highlighting the vital work of law students Brandy Keesee and Annabelle Smith on our client Bernard Pease's case and his recent parole win.