FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | From the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission | Lindsey Guice Smith, Executive Director On August 15-17, 2023, the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission (NCIIC) held a hearing in State v. Clarence Roberts, 13 CRS 054359 (Robeson County). The case arises from the murder of Joshua Council on June 14, 2013. On May 5, 2017, Clarence Roberts was convicted, after …
In this edition, we will discuss the Commission’s victim services program. We are proud of the work we have done to make the Commission a more trauma- informed agency, and we have certainly learned some lessons along the way. There are very few services built for victims in the post-conviction space, and we hope to share our successes and challenges with all criminal justice stakeholders who interact with crime victims!
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).
