Innocence Project Exoneree Michael Morton to Deliver 2019 Soll Lecture at University of Arizona Law
Morton will also be on hand for a Loft Cinema screening of the documentary about his case
Award-winning author and Innocence Project exoneree Michael Morton will deliver the 13th annual Darrow K. Soll Memorial Criminal Law and Justice Lecture at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law on Monday, Nov. 4.
His talk is titled, “Getting Life: An Innocent Man’s 25-Year Journey from Prison to Peace.”
Morton was wrongfully convicted for the 1986 murder of his wife and spent nearly 25 years imprisoned until he was exonerated through the efforts of the Innocence Project.
When: Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, 12-1 p.m.
Where: The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, 1201 E. Speedway Blvd., Room 164 (Ares Auditorium). Campus map: http://map.arizona.edu/
Who may attend: The event is free and open to the public.
Background: Michael Morton was born in Texas, grew up in California, and moved back to Texas in high school. While living in Austin, Michael was wrongfully convicted of the 1986 murder of his wife Christine, a crime witnessed by his then 3-year-old son. He spent almost 25 years in prison before being exonerated in 2011 through the efforts of the Innocence Project, pro bono lawyer John Raley, and advances in DNA technology.
Morton now works to prevent what happened to him from happening to others. He has worked with lawmakers to pass legislation such as the Michael Morton Act, which codifies exactly how and when prosecutors must share information with citizens who stand accused of a crime.
His journey is the subject of the award-winning documentary “An Unreal Dream: The Michael Morton Story,” in addition to his award-winning memoir, published in 2014 by Simon & Schuster, “Getting Life: An Innocent Man’s 25-Year Journey From Prison to Peace.”
Morton is now remarried, and he and his wife Cynthia live on a lake in rural East Texas.
The annual Soll Lecture is made possible through the generosity of Arizona Law alumna Jennifer Woods ('99).
Film Screening and Q&A
The University of Arizona Innocence Project – formerly the Wrongful Conviction Clinic – will hold a screening of “An Unreal Dream: The Michael Morton Story,” on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 4 p.m. at the Loft Cinema. Morton will engage in a question and answer session with the audience following the film. Ticket proceeds from this event will benefit the University of Arizona Innocence Project.
With questions about access or to request any disability-related accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in this event such as ASL interpreting, CART captioning, captioned videos, Braille, wheelchair access, or electronic text, etc., please contact Bernadette Wilkinson.
Event Contact: Bernadette Wilkinson, senior program coordinator, UA James E. Rogers College of Law, 520-626-1629, bwilkins@email.arizona.edu.