California Innocence Project Co-Directors Named California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year
Justin Brooks and Jan Stiglitz's work exonerating three wrongfully incarcerated men leads to prestigious honor

SAN DIEGO, February 22, 2010 - Professors Justin P. Brooks and Jan Stiglitz of the California Innocence Project, housed at California Western School of Law, join the ranks of California's best attorneys as recipients of California Lawyer Magazine's 14^th annual Attorney of the Year Award.

"What an honor it is to have Justin Brooks and Jan Stiglitz recognized as California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year," says Dean Steven R. Smith. "Their work with the California Innocence Project highlights the helping, collaborative nature of law and provides our students with invaluable real-world experience as creative problem solvers. The California Western community joins in celebrating their outstanding achievement." 

California Lawyer Attorney of the Year
Each year, California Lawyer selects the top attorneys in the state based on their achievements from the previous year or the expectation that they will make a significant impact on the practice of law in California. This year, 44 attorneys were recognized throughout the state from a variety of legal professions, including a state Assembly member, sole practitioners, and law professors.

"I am honored to receive a CLAY award," says Co-Director of the California Innocence Project Jan Stiglitz. "I assume it reflects a recognition of the importance of the work that we do at the California Innocence Project." 

Co-Director Justin Brooks has similar feelings about being honored.

"It is a great honor to win the California Lawyer of the Year Award," says Brooks. "With so many great lawyers in California it is particularly special to be recognized by my peers with this award."

California Innocence Project's Achievements in 2009
Brooks and Stiglitz's CLAY honor was likely solidified by the California Innocence Project's exoneration of three wrongfully incarcerated men in 2009.

In July, Reggie Cole's 1995 shooting death conviction was overturned by a dismissal of charges by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge. A month later, the California Innocence project had the murder conviction of William Richards reversed after forensic evidence excluded from his initial trial was presented, supporting his claim of innocence. In September, Rafael Madrigal, Jr.'s attempted first-degree murder conviction was reversed in a case involving a gang shooting.  

About the California Innocence Project
The California Innocence Project is a law school clinical program dedicated to the release of wrongfully convicted inmates and providing an outstanding educational experience for students enrolled in the clinic.

"The work of the California Innocence Project is vital because we pursue justice for indigent clients with few options and little hope," says Brooks. "The CLAY award reflects that the legal community values this type of work and encourages young lawyers to pursue social justice work."

Each year, the California Innocence Project reviews more than 1,000 claims of innocence from inmates.  To date, the project has secured the exoneration of eight wrongfully incarcerated individuals.

"Our justice system occasionally produces a grave injustice," says Stiglitz. "We founded the California Innocence Project in order to correct those mistakes and to reform the criminal justice system so as to help prevent wrongful convictions."