ND Law Professor Jimmy Gurulé Discusses Exoneration Justice Clinic’s Work in Interview with Renowned Journalist Carmen Aristegui
Last week, ND Law Professor Jimmy Gurulé was interviewed by Carmen Aristegui, widely regarded as one of Mexico's most prominent journalists, to discuss the work of the Notre Dame Exoneration Justice Clinic (EJC) and the Program for the Defense of Mexican Nationals in Criminal Matters in the United States (PDM). Ms. Aristegui, known for her fearless reporting on government corruption in Mexico, received the 2023 “World Press Freedom Hero” award from the IPI-IMS, the world’s premier international press organization. Professor Gurulé is the founder and faculty director of the EJC and a former federal prosecutor.
Supported by Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the PDM was established in 2023 to provide legal assistance to Mexican nationals who have been wrongfully convicted or who are facing criminal charges in the United States. Professor Gurulé emphasized that “this program is more important today than ever” given the ongoing restrictions and stigmatization of immigrants in the U.S. He also noted that “there is no other program like this." The PDM is part of the EJC, which is the only law clinic in the country to receive funding from a foreign government to represent foreign nationals nationwide.
The PDM handles approximately 15 cases across 11 U.S. states, including California, Texas, and New York. About 40 law students are enrolled in the EJC at Notre Dame Law School this semester, and several of them directly work on PDM cases.
In addition to his interview with Ms. Aristegui, Professor Gurulé spoke at Mexico’s largest law school, the Facultad de Derecho at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). He spoke about the PDM and highlighted the importance of law school clinics and the pedagogy of clinical education, emphasizing the value of hands-on legal experience in preparing students for the practice of law.
Read the full article (in Spanish) on Aristegui Noticias here.
Watch the full interview (in Spanish) with Carmen Aristegui below:
Originally published by at exoneration.nd.edu on October 27, 2025.