– Photo courtesy of WMU-Cooley
Western Michigan University Cooley Law School’s Criminal Law Society recently hosted a panel discussion “Free to Speak: Guilty until Proven Innocent” at its Auburn Hills campus. The event highlighted wrongful convictions as well as the work performed by WMU-Cooley’s Innocence Project. More than 80 students gathered to hear Ken Wyniemko (back row, third from left) speak about his wrongful conviction. Wyniemko was convicted of rape and served nine years for the crime. He was the second person in the state of Michigan to be exonerated by DNA testing. “I want to stress the importance of being ethical and always fighting for the truth,” explained Wyniemko. “I am not bitter about my experience. It has only inspired me to educate the public about the criminal justice system and its challenges.” Also taking part in the program were (front row, left to right) Katie Szymanski, vice president, Criminal Law Society; panelists Valerie Newman and Christine Pagac, attorneys with State Appellate Defenders Office; and Alexandra Giuliani, president, Criminal Law Society; along with (back row, left to right) panelist Bill Proctor, founder, Proving Innocence; panelist Marla Mitchell-Cichon, director, WMU-Cooley’s Innocence Project; panelist Gail Pamukov-Miller, attorney; Erika Breitfeld, faculty advisor, Criminal Law Society; and Adriana Gjokaj, secretary, Criminal Law Society.
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