On Monday a Dallas court freed Richard Miles after 14 years in prison after a prisoner advocacy group discovered that the prosecution in his 1995 murder and attempted murder trial had withheld evidence. Miles was freed when it came to light that an anonymous caller implicated another man in the shootings Deandre S. Williams and Robert Ray Johnson. The judge in the case, Texas State District Judge Andrew Chatham, is a 1996 graduate of OCU LAW. 

The story of the Richard Miles case is featured in today’s Dallas Morning News and available on the paper’s website.

News of the resolution in the case comes as OCU LAW welcomes bestselling author John Grisham to campus to speak about cases such as these. Grisham’s presentation, titled "The Innocent Man and Wrongful Conviction in America," is free and open to the public. It begins tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center on the OCU Campus. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and seating is limited.

Last night, Oklahoma City Fox affiliate KOKH featured the Grisham event and OCU LAW’s efforts to create a center on wrongful conviction in its 9 p.m. newscast. Video is available at the Fox-25 website.

Grisham will discuss his blockbuster non-fiction book, "The Innocent Man," which recounts the saga of the wrongful conviction and ultimate exoneration of two Oklahomans, Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz. Based on his experience writing this book, Grisham has become dedicated to supporting programs throughout the nation to identify and correct wrongful convictions. 

Following the Grisham event, the next day on Wednesday, Oct. 14, OCU LAW will host "In Their Own Words: Oklahoma’s Exonerated Tell Their Stories" at 5 p.m. in the Homsey Family Moot Courtroom in Sarkeys Law Center.

The Oct. 14 event also is free and open to the public. It will feature some of Oklahoma’s exonerated individuals, innocent people who served years in prison before their innocence was established. Some of the lawyers involved in securing exonerations will also be present.

David Bryson served 16 years for a crime he didn’t commit. For Dennis Fritz it was 11 years. Curtis McCarty was an innocent man in prison for 21 years. These and other individuals will share the disturbing stories of their wrongful convictions, the inspiring stories of how they were exonerated, and the hopeful story of OCU LAW’s efforts to establish a program at the school.

"John Grisham’s appearance is an important first step for us to raise the funds necessary for OCU LAW to train students how to minimize such mistakes in the future, and how to rectify those that have yet to be discovered," said Lawrence K. Hellman, dean of OCU LAW. "Equally important are the stories of individuals who experienced the trauma of being wrongfully convicted and the triumph of establishing their innocence. We hope that holding both of these events in the same week will raise public awareness and put us on firm footing for establishing a program here."

While there is no charge for either event, attendees at the Oct. 13 event will have an opportunity to make a gift to OCU LAW’s program to address wrongful convictions. Suggested minimum contribution: $25 at the door. Donors of $100 and up will have access to reserved seating and admission to a reception with John Grisham (with photo opportunity). Reserved seating tickets can be purchased in advance and will also be available at the door, as space allows. 

For more information on these events contact the law school at 405-208-5197 or e-mail lawevents[at]okcu(DOT)edu.

Matrix Service Co. has named OCU LAW alumna Judy Seymour Eliot ‘79 as its new vice-president and general counsel. Eliot said she will be responsible for "administering the legal affairs of Matrix by providing professional, timely and useful legal advice and services; minimizing liability exposure by implementing appropriate policies, practices and procedures, and to administer such legal affairs in the most cost-efficient manners to maximize the company’s return to its shareholders." Matrix has legal departments in Tulsa, Houston, Texas, California, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Before joining Matrix, Eliot served as general counsel and corporate secretary at T.D. Williamson, Inc. She also served as general counsel at Engineering Design Group Inc., and was an attorney for Occidental Oil and Gas Inc. The Tulsa native graduated from Will Rogers High School and earned her bachelor’s degree from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College before earning her juris doctor from OCU LAW. She is on the board of Tulsa C.A.R.E.S., a United Way charity that provides assistance to HIV-positive individuals. 

The Tulsa World profiled Eliot on Sunday. Full text of their article is available online.