Atlantic Center for Capital Representation (ACCR)

Join us & Amnesty International tomorrow (10/6) @ 8:00pm EST for their annual celebration of World Day Against the Death Penalty. Our Legal Director Marc Bookman will join other experts to discuss how inadequate defense leads to horrible injustice. Additional information and registration link below:... https://www.amnestyusa.org//world-day-against-the-death-p/ See more

The Death Penalty is broken beyond repair, and there's a new documentary to demonstrate that. Don't forget to tune in to this year's Nashville Film Festival for "You Don't Know Me". Views and votes increase the chances that this death penalty documentary makes it to a larger platform. "You don’t know TN death row inmate Abu-Ali Abdur ‘Rahman and the cascade of injustices that keep him fighting for his life. You don’t know Lionel Barrett, a celebrated defense attorney turned ...rural goat farmer, who inexplicably blew Abu’s case. You don’t know the prominent businessman whose mysterious cult orchestrated the crime or the deceitful DA who misled the jury. Know them--and the truth behind one of Nashville’s most notorious crimes." Trailer and viewing schedule below: https://nashfilm2020.eventive.org//5f4c97fc621c6e0030da95c9

Last week, the PA Innocence Project sent a letter to the Board of Pardons in Pennsylvania encouraging expanded clemency. ACCR was, of course, eager to join their call. https://innocenceprojectpa.org/Blog-Item-Letter-to-the-PA-B... Today, a total of 15 people serving life without parole sentences will have public hearings before the PA Board of Pardons. This is their only shot at coming home. Rehabilitation is possible. People deserve #SecondChances! Head to the FAMM Foundation website to urge the Board of Pardons to expand clemency! https://secure.everyaction.com/K7WwF1wifESymDhKH26iRg2

ACCR's new logo - marking 10 years of service.

Innocent man #WalterOgrod has spent 23 years wrongfully convicted on Pennsylvania's death row. This morning via Zoom hearing, his conviction was vacated. Ogrod will be released from SCI Phoenix today and will return to court in the near future for his official exoneration. A statement from Ogrod's attorneys can be found here: https://drive.google.com//1SCTcN62-Db3iRyX28qxUPc4ern/view

This week, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in favor of ACCR client #KareemJohnson. The Court granted the double jeopardy motion, expanding the protection of defendants to include reckless indifference by the DA. This is a big win for clients subjected to prosecutorial misconduct. For more info on the #KareemJohnson case, check out ... Aider & Abettor Podcast podcast episode "An Incomprehensible Series of Gross Mistakes" with Marc Bookman. To read the full opinion, head to our website! https://static1.squarespace.com//Kareem+Johnson+Majority+O Because of this landmark decision by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, when prosecutors treat cases with such reckless indifference, they can no longer subject defendants to the pain and expense of retrial. Cases like Kareem’s are why ACCR exists, and we couldn't do this work without the kindness of our supporters. It is the contributions of people like you that enable us to change the trajectory of the legal decisions that impact our client’s lives.

Check out ACCR's latest blog, Catching Up, on our website! You'll find Marc Bookman's updates on the PA death penalty, other happenings around COVID-19 and the importance of independent public defense. https://www.atlanticcenter.org/blog/catching-up

Just verified with PA DOC- Anyone who would like to send books to PA DOC inmates during the COVID-19 lockdown can order via Amazon.com and ship to:... Inmate Name/Number Institution Security Processing Center 268 Bricker Road Bellefonte, PA 16823 *paperback copies only!

All of us at ACCR are monitoring the status of #DeathPenalty litigation around the state. If you have updates about the impact of #COVID19 in pending #DeathPenalty cases by county in #Pennsylvania, please let us know! Happy to share the info we're collecting upon request.

Friends of ACCR! Please join Patrick Egan this Sunday for a conversation about Criminal Justice in Pennsylvania.

Last weekend, Co-Director Marc Bookman and client & ACCR board member Ricky Olds presented at the 2019 Strategy Session Conference in San Diego. Their live discussion covered attorney/client relationships and addressed audience questions about how attorneys can better relate to & assist their clients. Thanks to everyone who attended their plenary session!