Welcome back to our newsletter! In this edition, we’re going to talk about the Commission’s 2022 Annual Report. The Commission’s governing statute requires an annual report detailing our activities be submitted to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety by February 1 every year. The 2022 Annual Report, and annual reports from prior years, can be found …
Welcome back to our newsletter! Welcome to the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission’s quarterly newsletter! The Commission is an independent, neutral state agency charged with investigating and evaluating claims of innocence by individuals who have been convicted of certain crimes in North Carolina. It is currently the only state agency of its kind in the entire country. Last year the …
Welcome to the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission’s first quarterly newsletter! The Commission is an independent, neutral state agency tasked with investigating claims of innocence by individuals who have been convicted of certain crimes in North Carolina. It is the only state agency of its kind in the entire county. This year marks 15 years of the Commission being in operation and we have created this newsletter to give insight into our operations and accomplishments.
Chief Justice Paul Newby has issued a proclamation declaring the week of October 24-28 as Innocence Inquiry Commission Week for the North Carolina Judicial Branch. Innocence Inquiry Commission Week is intended to recognize the importance of the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission (NCIIC) to North Carolinians. The Commission celebrates its 15-year anniversary this year.
On July 11-13, 2022, a three-judge panel hearing was held in the case of State v. John Pritchard, 11 CRS 304 (Yancey County), after the case was referred by the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission (NCIIC). On July 20, 2022, the three-judge panel ruled that Mr. Pritchard had not proven his innocence by clear and convincing evidence and relief was denied.
On June 16, Forsyth County Superior Court Judge Richard Gottlieb vacated the conviction of Merritt Williams in the 1985 murder of Blanche Bryson. Mr. Williams subsequently entered an Alford Plea to breaking and / or entering. An Alford Plea “is when a defendant maintains his innocence but admits that the state has sufficient evidence to convict him and agrees to be treated …
On April 18-28, 2022, Forsyth County held a three-judge panel hearing in the case of State v. Bryant, et. al., 02 CRS 38882, 38883, 38884, 38886, after the case was referred by the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission (NCIIC). At the conclusion of the hearing, the three-judge panel ruled that Mr. Bryant, Mr. Cauthen, Mr. Tolliver, and Mr. Banner had not proven their innocence by clear and convincing evidence and relief was denied.
On December 14-15, 2021, the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission (NCIIC) held a hearing in State v. John Pritchard, 11 CRS 304-305 (Yancey County).
The North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission will hold a hearing on State v. John Pritchard filed in Yancey County (11 CRS 304-305). Judge Thomas H. Lock will preside as chair. The Commission’s executive director, Lindsey Guice Smith, will present the case to Commissioners. The hearing is anticipated to last two days. No interviews will be provided. WHENTuesday, December 14, 2021 through Wednesday, December 15, 2021. The …
The Commission is very grateful to the North Carolina General Assembly and the Governor for implementing a budget that included an unprecedented EXPANSION to the Commission’s budget. This EXPANSION will allow the Commission to maintain talented staff, hire much needed additional staff to manage OUR EVER increasing workload, PROVIDE CONSISTENT support FOR our Victims’ program, and PROVIDE funds to pay for operational expenses like forensic testing and expert witnesses.
