Paul, Weiss is committed to providing impactful pro bono legal assistance to individuals and organizations in need. Our program is all-encompassing, spanning the core issues facing our society.
Pro Bono Client Wins Reversal of Double Murder Conviction
- Client News
- September 2, 2015
Practices
Paul, Weiss secured a major victory for a pro bono client when the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, Second Department reversed his double murder conviction. The appellate court found that the trial court erred in precluding expert testimony about the phenomenon of false confessions and in allowing the prosecution to amend the bill of particulars approximately 10 years after charges were filed to change the date on which the alleged murders occurred. Paul, Weiss has been this client's pro bono counsel since 2008, when we sought and obtained a new trial on the same charges based on claims of ineffective assistance provided by prior counsel. Should the People elect to retry our client, it would be his fifth trial on these charges, with two trials ending in guilty verdicts that were reversed on appeal and two trials ending in hung juries.
The Paul, Weiss team included litigation partner Roberto Finzi, who argued the appeal, and associates William Clareman and Justin Wiley.