After Innocence
To accompany our opening weekend shows of AFTER INNOCENCE at The Dobie, we are happy to welcome the following speakers for question and answer sessions following the film.
Friday, February 24th, after the first evening screening
sponsored by the Texas Center for Actual Innocence.
David A. Sheppard. David A. Sheppard is the co-director of the University of Texas Actual Innocence Clinic. He has been practicing criminal law for 30 years, first as a felony prosecutor and then in private practice. His practice is restricted to the defense of criminal cases in state and federal court. He represented Richard Danzinger in his successful effort to obtain release from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice upon proof he was actually innocent of the offense for which he was serving a lengthy prison sentence.
Saturday February 25th and Sunday February 26th, after the first evening screenings
sponsored by the Texas Innocence Network and Vinson & Elkins LLP.
Saturday. Robert W. Hoelscher. Robert W. Hoelscher is the Deputy Director of the Texas Innocence Network where he manages public policy education and advocacy. He is the co-founder and former Executive Director of Innocence Project New Orleans, an organization responsible for four Louisiana exonerations. Mr. Hoelscher is also a family member of a murder victim and serves on the national board of Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation.
Sunday. Robert C. Owen. Robert C. Owen is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas School of law where he co-directs the Capital Punishment Clinic. He has defended people facing the death penalty since 1989 at every level of the state and federal court system, including arguing successfully at the United States Supreme Court (Tennard v. Dretke, 2004). Mr. Owen was co-counsel for Ernest Willis, who was exonerated from Texas' Death Row in 2004.
Synopsis of AFTER INNOCENCE: After Innocence tells the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated - innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. The film focuses on the gripping story of seven men and their emotional journey back into society and efforts to rebuild their lives. Included are a police officer, an army sergeant and a young father sent to prison and even death row for decades for crimes they did not commit.
The men are thrust back into society with little or no support from the system that put them behind bars. While the public views exonerations as success stories - wrongs that have been righted - After Innocence shows that the human toll of wrongful imprisonment can last far longer than the sentences served. The film raises basic questions about human rights and society’s moral obligation to the exonerated and places a spotlight on the flaws in our criminal justice system that lead to wrongful conviction of the innocent.
The Texas Center for Actual Innocence (TCAI) is a non-profit, tax exempt corporation that screens and investigates claims from inmates that they are actually innocent of the offense for which they were convicted and are serving a prison sentence. In cooperation with the University of Texas Law School, TCAI operates the Actual Innocence clinic at the Law School. Law Students screen and investigate claims of actual innocence under the supervision. Students receive law school credit for participating in the clinic.
The Texas Innocence Network investigates claims of actual innocence and provides legal assistance to indigent prisoners convicted of crimes they did not commit. The network is an educational and public service partnership of the University of Houston Law Center, Lamar University, Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law, University of St. Thomas Communication Department, Texas Tech University School of Law, the University of Texas at Arlington Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Texas Wesleyan University School of Law.
Vinson & Elkins LLP was established in 1917 and is one of the world's largest international law firms. The firm has about 700 lawyers practicing in Austin, Beijing, Dallas, Dubai, Houston, London, Moscow, New York, Shanghai, Tokyo and Washington D.C. Vinson & Elkins offers a wide range of legal services. Clients include public and private companies, financial institutions, municipalities, governments of sovereign nations, entrepreneurs, families and individuals.
The After Innocence Campaign is a strategic effort to build awareness and support for the exonerated. Campaign Partners include: Active Voice (http://www.activevoice.net), Life After Exoneration Program (http://www.exonerated.org), and the Innocence Project (http://www.innocenceproject.org).
Dan Cofer
The Dobie Theatre
2025 Guadalupe #268
Austin TX 78705
P: 512-472-3240
F: 512-477-7982
Friday, February 24th, after the first evening screening
sponsored by the Texas Center for Actual Innocence.
David A. Sheppard. David A. Sheppard is the co-director of the University of Texas Actual Innocence Clinic. He has been practicing criminal law for 30 years, first as a felony prosecutor and then in private practice. His practice is restricted to the defense of criminal cases in state and federal court. He represented Richard Danzinger in his successful effort to obtain release from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice upon proof he was actually innocent of the offense for which he was serving a lengthy prison sentence.
Saturday February 25th and Sunday February 26th, after the first evening screenings
sponsored by the Texas Innocence Network and Vinson & Elkins LLP.
Saturday. Robert W. Hoelscher. Robert W. Hoelscher is the Deputy Director of the Texas Innocence Network where he manages public policy education and advocacy. He is the co-founder and former Executive Director of Innocence Project New Orleans, an organization responsible for four Louisiana exonerations. Mr. Hoelscher is also a family member of a murder victim and serves on the national board of Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation.
Sunday. Robert C. Owen. Robert C. Owen is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas School of law where he co-directs the Capital Punishment Clinic. He has defended people facing the death penalty since 1989 at every level of the state and federal court system, including arguing successfully at the United States Supreme Court (Tennard v. Dretke, 2004). Mr. Owen was co-counsel for Ernest Willis, who was exonerated from Texas' Death Row in 2004.
Synopsis of AFTER INNOCENCE: After Innocence tells the dramatic and compelling story of the exonerated - innocent men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then released after DNA evidence proved their innocence. The film focuses on the gripping story of seven men and their emotional journey back into society and efforts to rebuild their lives. Included are a police officer, an army sergeant and a young father sent to prison and even death row for decades for crimes they did not commit.
The men are thrust back into society with little or no support from the system that put them behind bars. While the public views exonerations as success stories - wrongs that have been righted - After Innocence shows that the human toll of wrongful imprisonment can last far longer than the sentences served. The film raises basic questions about human rights and society’s moral obligation to the exonerated and places a spotlight on the flaws in our criminal justice system that lead to wrongful conviction of the innocent.
The Texas Center for Actual Innocence (TCAI) is a non-profit, tax exempt corporation that screens and investigates claims from inmates that they are actually innocent of the offense for which they were convicted and are serving a prison sentence. In cooperation with the University of Texas Law School, TCAI operates the Actual Innocence clinic at the Law School. Law Students screen and investigate claims of actual innocence under the supervision. Students receive law school credit for participating in the clinic.
The Texas Innocence Network investigates claims of actual innocence and provides legal assistance to indigent prisoners convicted of crimes they did not commit. The network is an educational and public service partnership of the University of Houston Law Center, Lamar University, Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law, University of St. Thomas Communication Department, Texas Tech University School of Law, the University of Texas at Arlington Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Texas Wesleyan University School of Law.
Vinson & Elkins LLP was established in 1917 and is one of the world's largest international law firms. The firm has about 700 lawyers practicing in Austin, Beijing, Dallas, Dubai, Houston, London, Moscow, New York, Shanghai, Tokyo and Washington D.C. Vinson & Elkins offers a wide range of legal services. Clients include public and private companies, financial institutions, municipalities, governments of sovereign nations, entrepreneurs, families and individuals.
The After Innocence Campaign is a strategic effort to build awareness and support for the exonerated. Campaign Partners include: Active Voice (http://www.activevoice.net), Life After Exoneration Program (http://www.exonerated.org), and the Innocence Project (http://www.innocenceproject.org).
Dan Cofer
The Dobie Theatre
2025 Guadalupe #268
Austin TX 78705
P: 512-472-3240
F: 512-477-7982
