MAIP’s 2018 Awards Luncheon will honor Governor Terry McAuliffe

The 2018 Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project Awards Luncheon will honor Governor Terry McAuliffe with the Champion of Justice award. Gov. McAuliffe will also be the keynote speaker at the July 12 event at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Washington DC.

As governor of Virginia, Mr. McAuliffe championed numerous reforms to Virginia’s criminal justice system, including the ability to petition the court based on new DNA evidence, regardless of how he or she originally pleaded. During his tenure, McAuliffe restored the rights of more than 173,000 Virginians, more than any other governor in U.S. history. Under the McAuliffe Administration, the Department of Juvenile Justice reduced its population in state-operated Juvenile Correctional Centers by nearly two-thirds. Virginia has boasted the lowest adult recidivism rate in the nation for the past two straight years.

Gov. McAuliffe used his pardon power to help those who clearly were innocent, but had no legal remedy to prove their innocence in Virginia courts. He granted absolute pardons to MAIP client Mike McAlister and to the Norfolk Four, who were represented by several MAIP board members. Said Gov. McAuliffe (of the Norfolk Four), “These pardons close the final chapter on a grave injustice that has plagued these four men for nearly 20 years.” He also granted absolute pardons to Davey Reedy and Robert Davis based on their innocence.

For more information about this year’s Luncheon, and to find out about how to attend, please visit: exonerate.org/luncheon or contact sponsor@exonerate.org.