Notre Dame Law School's Exoneration Justice Clinic: Where Legal Education Meets Justice Reform | News | The Law School

Four students sit at a long table working on laptops in a room with a crucifix on the wall. — *St. Olaf College student Norah Langager and Notre Dame undergraduate students Kori Dupree, Jack Yuro, and James Lodenslager*

Since its establishment in fall 2020, Notre Dame Law School's Exoneration Justice Clinic has served as a beacon of hope for those who have suffered wrongful convictions while providing students with transformative real-world experience in criminal justice advocacy.

A Mission of Justice and Redemption

Under the direction of Professor Jimmy Gurulé, a former federal prosecutor, the clinic investigates, litigates, and works to overturn wrongful convictions. The clinic has experienced remarkable growth since its founding, with the program continuing to attract diverse and talented students. For summer 2025, the EJC has welcomed 18 student interns: 9 interns in the Exoneration Justice Clinic and 9 interns in the Program for the Defense of Mexican Nationals (PDM), a new dimension of the EJC that broadens the scope of the EJC’s work. The PDM provides legal assistance to Mexican nationals who have been wrongfully convicted or who are facing criminal charges, highlighting the EJC’s commitment to serving distinct client populations through specialized advocacy.

This year's cohort includes law students Shawn Andrew and Brooke Verville from Notre Dame; exchange students Samuel Misembi and Ibrahim Ahmedin from Strathmore Law School in Nairobi, Kenya; Notre Dame undergraduate students James Lodenslager, Kori Dupree, and Jack Yuro; and St. Olaf College students Payton Johnson and Norah Langager. The PDM cohort for this summer includes law students Zoë Bonnichsen, Jeron Melroy, and returning participant Sydni Hart; Notre Dame undergraduate students Esmeralda Ciciaco Sanchez, Joshua Talache-Wheat, Grecia Alcantar, and Mark Valenzuela; and St. Olaf students Sam Laurel and Ruth Feleke.

The clinic's work extends beyond the courtroom, providing exonerated clients access to social support services including education, vocational training, transitional housing, and health care services. This comprehensive approach recognizes that exoneration is just the first step in rebuilding lives shattered by wrongful imprisonment.

Transformative Student Experience

A person with long brown hair, wearing a black and tan horizontally striped shirt, types on a laptop at a desk. A white tumbler and pink water bottle sit nearby. — *Rising 2L Zoë Bonnichsen*

The program provides both law students and undergraduates with invaluable hands-on experience that shapes their understanding of the criminal justice system and their future career aspirations. Students assist in case selection by reviewing requests from Indiana prison inmates, evaluating claims of innocence, and assessing potential avenues for proving innocence through a comprehensive intake process. The experience extends beyond desk work to include prison visits, trial attendance, investigations, and drafting legal pleadings, providing students with a profound understanding of the human impact of wrongful convictions.

Students consistently report that the most meaningful aspects of their internships involve direct client interaction, whether visiting clients in prison or participating in investigations. Professor Gurulé noted that several students in the PDM program are Spanish speakers, which has significantly enhanced the clinic’s work: “Being bilingual enables these students to translate documents written in Spanish and interview witnesses that speak little English. These students are an invaluable asset to the PDM."

For many students, the attraction to the program stems from academic interests that develop into something much deeper. Current law student intern Shawn Andrew said, "I chose to apply to this internship because I was really fascinated by criminal law after my fall semester taking it. I thought that this would be a really impactful sort of thing to do. The second I saw the application, I immediately sent it in."

The program's most profound impact often comes through encounters with those who have been directly affected by wrongful convictions. St. Olaf student Norah Langager reflected on one particularly meaningful experience: "I'd say meeting this woman named Iris [who the EJC has worked with] after she was wrongfully convicted. Seeing her in person and seeing the hope she still has and her drive for life was really inspiring."

Expanding Impact and Recognition

Four students sit around a table with laptops and notebooks, collaborating in a room with a wall-mounted television. — *St. Olaf College student Payton Johnson, rising 2L Shawn Andrew, and Strathmore Law School exchange students Ibrahim Ahmedin and Samuel Misembi*

The clinic's work has gained recognition well beyond Notre Dame Law School, attracting interest from undergraduate students at Notre Dame, students from other institutions, and even law schools outside the country. This broad appeal reflects the growing awareness of wrongful conviction issues and the importance of the clinic's mission in criminal justice reform.

"We're drawing students from multiple streams—undergraduate students from the Political Science department, Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights, Institute for Latino Studies, and St. Olaf College, and law students from Notre Dame Law School and Strathmore Law School," said Professor Gurulé.

The program's expansion to include undergraduate students represents a significant evolution in the clinic's approach. The clinic has found that undergraduate students bring valuable enthusiasm, passion, and work ethic that contribute meaningfully to advancing the mission of the EJC, despite their lack of formal legal training. Many of these undergraduate students plan to attend law school, and their work at the EJC provides an invaluable opportunity to conduct legal research and develop foundational skills that will serve them well in their future study of the law.

Looking Forward

Two students work on their laptops at a table. The student in the foreground wears a white shirt, and the student in the background wears a white sweater. — *St. Olaf College student Ruth Feleke and Notre Dame undergraduate student Mark Valenzuela*

As the Exoneration Justice Clinic continues to grow and evolve, it remains committed to its dual mission of seeking justice for the wrongfully convicted or wrongly accused, while providing transformative educational experiences for students at multiple levels. What sets the EJC apart is its rare capacity to offer both pre-trial and post-conviction legal assistance—working not only to overturn wrongful convictions, but also to prevent them from happening in the first place. No other law school clinic in the country provides this comprehensive combination of pre-trial and post-conviction legal assistance.

For students considering their path at Notre Dame Law School or contemplating legal careers, the EJC offers an opportunity to be part of something larger than themselves—a chance to contribute to reforming the criminal justice system while developing the skills and perspectives needed to become effective advocates for justice throughout their careers.

The Exoneration Justice Clinic stands as a testament to Notre Dame Law School's commitment to forming lawyers who will serve as agents of positive change in the world, carrying forward the institution's legacy of faith-informed legal education and service to others. As the program continues to expand and evolve, it remains a beacon of hope for those seeking justice and a transformative educational experience for the next generation of legal advocates.

Learn more about Notre Dame Law School’s Exoneration Justice Clinic at exoneration.nd.edu.