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Fred Freeman's appeal once again denied by the Sixth Circuit

Two authors share their views of the decision handed down by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. What they found did not reflect well on the court. Their viewpoints are below. As always, we give you an opportunity to download the decision and read it for yourself.

False and Deceptive Statements in Sixth Circuit Order

By B. David Sanders -

Why was the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals order not signed by any judge?  That is unusual and suggests no judge wanted his name attached to such a poorly written document filled with errors and deception. 

The Court was uninterested in taking the time to review the full record and evidence of Freeman’s case, listening only to the false and unsupported claims of St. Clair County.

Click here to read the rest of False and Deceptive Statements in Sixth Circuit Order

Macklem Blog #6 -

An Open Letter to Judge Cleland

By Barbara Kennedy -

Lawyer Barbara Kennedy takes aim at who she believes is responsible for the Sixth Circuit's deceptive statements and urges him to make things right.

Click here to read Barbara Kennedy's take on this decision.

Exoneree Darrell Siggers Speaks

in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Darrell Siggers had not traveled beyond a 15 block radius of his home when at the age of 20 he went to prison. His world changed again 34 years later he was exonerated. Imagine how he felt when he received an invitation to go to Jackson Hole, WY! Where is Jackson Hole? Is it safe? Three 7th graders attending Jackson Hole Middle School invited Darrell to speak about his experience as a person wrongfully convicted. It was a part of a Combat the Silence school project. Students selected their own topic, and Angel, Alex, and Andrew focused on raising awareness of those who have been falsely accused, convicted and incarcerated for multiple decades.

Darrell's talk was tailor-made for students. "The reason I was wrongly convicted was I didn't know the law. I was vulnerable. After going to prison I determined I was never again going to let someone else know more about my life than I did!" Darrell talked about how he made choices and stayed focused on his goal: to secure his freedom. He knew that would only happen if he became a student of the law. He challenged the students to pick a goal and persevere. Darrell's emphasis on education, his ability to share details about his experience and articulate so well the emotional roller coaster he endured, make him an excellent and riveting speaker for those whose lives have been lived in relative tranquility.

Darrell gave three talks to the high schoolers, the middle schoolers and a community group at the public library. He was well received and it was reported that a couple students went home and told their parents that they have decided to go to law school! Bill Branham, PI board member, gave introductory remarks about wrongful convictions, before turning it over to Mr. Siggers.

A special 'thank you' to Angel, Alex, Andrew, Michelle and their families for giving Darrell a taste of a different part of life in the USA. And we applaud them and their school for learning about things that matter!

The Anatomy of A Wrongful Conviction

spending over twenty-four years in prison, and Davontae Sanford (Detroit - MI) a juvenile who spent over nine years incarcerated as an adult. Pursley stated his case was the first exoneration using post-conviction ballistics testing in the country. He created a non-profit organization, Kid Culture, which focuses on positive youth engagement in his hometown of Rockford, Illinois. Sanford's non-profit organization, Innocent Dreams, does similar work throughout Michigan and has recently developed a ride-sharing initiative that allows family members to see loved ones who are currently incarcerated. 

During the forum, the audience asked Pursley and Sanford several critical questions as they struggled to understand how anyone could matriculate through the entire criminal justice system and be innocent of the crime in which they were convicted. One panelist asked Pursley and Sanford, "How did you do the time while knowing you were innocent. I did two years and I was guilty and it was hell. I couldn't imagine spending 9 years or over 24 years in prison for something I did not do." This question sparked a very interesting discussion regarding the challenges Pursley, Sanford, and many others experience as their lives were irrevocably changed by the systematic failures of our criminal justice system. As the forum concluded, both panelists emphasized the need for criminal justice reform to prevent wrongful convictions and to aid those who have been wrongfully convicted.

And forward this newsletter to others to help us further this work.

In our next edition: Report on the Survivors Speak: Wrongful Conviction Summit and a Review of When The See Us, a Netflix production about the Central Park Five.