Video & Transcript Research : 'wrongful convictions'

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LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary Apr 28th, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • And we have a number of very, very convicted folks that are advocates and are passionate about seeing
  • And we have a number of very, very convicted folks that are advocates and are passionate about seeing
  • Because I think it does afford an affordable alternative for somebody feels like they've been wronged
  • Because I think it does afford an affordable alternative for somebody feels like they've been wronged
  • Because I think it does afford an affordable alternative for somebody feels like they've been wronged
Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first took up House Bill 1165, which was converted into a substitute bill to reorganize the Avoyelles Parish court system by creating two city courts, one for Marksville and one for Bunkie, and expanding their jurisdiction parishwide, including small claims and certain misdemeanor, civil, and juvenile matters. The sponsor and supporting judges said the change would better use existing courts and improve access to justice, while the district attorney opposed it, arguing it would not help the criminal docket, could create staffing and constitutional issues, and needed more study. After questions about voting districts, appellate procedure, and minority vote dilution, the committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably. The committee then heard House Bill 1064 creating a domestic violence intervention court pilot program in the 19th Judicial District, with testimony from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and the YWCA describing a specialty court model focused on accountability, victim services, and wraparound support. The bill was reported favorably. House Bill 341, clarifying law enforcement officer rights during administrative investigations, was amended to specify administrative matters and reported with amendments. House Concurrent Resolution 64, as amended, expanded a study of behavioral health courts to include additional parishes and a later reporting deadline, and was reported favorably. House Bill 579, the sexual assault survivor bill of rights, was amended to strengthen notice, confidentiality, and funding provisions and then reported favorably. Later, House Bill 1004, which would have raised the jurisdictional threshold for justice of the peace courts from $5,000 to $7,500, drew significant opposition from city court judges who warned of unintended consequences, including different evidentiary standards, possible attorney-representation issues for entities, and added burdens on district courts. Supporters framed it as an inflation adjustment and access-to-justice measure, but after debate the committee voted 5-11 to defer the bill. House Bill 183, limiting courthouse cell phone bans in fee-payment areas, was amended and then failed on a 7-7 tie with the chair voting no. The committee also reported favorably House Bill 451 on ATC hearing notices, House Bill 541 on micro distillers via substitute, Senate Bill 44 on tactical medical professionals’ firearms, House Resolution 37 honoring veterans who served in Honduras, and House Bill 89 requiring a district attorney office to pay certain retirees’ health premiums from its own funds. Several other bills were voluntarily deferred, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary Apr 28th, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • And we have a number of very, very convicted folks that are advocates and are passionate about seeing
  • people who have committed a felony, have committed some of... ...have committed something that is a conviction
  • Because I think it does afford an affordable alternative for somebody feels like they've been wronged
Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up a long agenda of judiciary-related bills and resolutions. It first considered HB 1165, which was substantially rewritten by substitute to create the City Courts of Marksville and Bunkie and expand their jurisdiction parishwide in Avoyelles Parish, including small claims and certain misdemeanor, civil, and juvenile matters. Supporters, including judges, said the change would improve access to justice and better use existing courts; the district attorney opposed it, arguing it would not help the criminal docket and raised constitutional, staffing, and election concerns. After questions about voting districts, appeals, and minority vote dilution, the substitute was reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably HB 1064, creating a domestic violence intervention court pilot program in the 19th JDC, and HB 341, clarifying that law-enforcement officer interrogations under the bill of rights are administrative rather than criminal matters; both drew supportive testimony from court, advocacy, and law-enforcement representatives. The committee then approved HCR 64, as amended, to study behavioral health courts and expand the study to Ouachita, East Baton Rouge, and Orleans parishes, with a report due by January 1, 2027. It also reported favorably HB 579, which strengthens the sexual assault survivor bill of rights and related protections, with testimony emphasizing survivor services and access to funding. HB 1004, which would have raised the jurisdictional limit for justice of the peace courts from $5,000 to $7,500, drew substantial opposition from city court judges and others who warned of unintended consequences, including inconsistent procedures, possible attorney-representation requirements for entities, and more appeals; after debate the bill failed on a roll call vote, 5 yeas to 11 nays. Later, the committee reported favorably HB 451, allowing the Alcohol and Tobacco Control commissioner to send hearing notices electronically and removing the 30-day mailing constraint; HB 541, as a substitute, allowing in-state microdistillers producing under 100 gallons to obtain a permit for a $100 fee; HB 183, prohibiting courthouse cellphone bans in areas where fines, fees, or court costs are paid, though it faced concerns about legislative authority over local courthouses and ultimately failed on a 7-8 vote; SB 44, requiring agency approval for firearms and ammunition carried by tactical medical professionals; HR 37, memorializing Congress to award the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal to veterans who served in Honduras from 1981 to 1992; and HB 89, requiring the Third Judicial District DA’s office to pay health insurance premiums for eligible retired employees from its own funds. Several other items were voluntarily deferred, and the meeting ended after the committee completed its agenda.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Criminal Jurisprudence Apr 29th, 2025

Criminal Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • imprisonment. ...wrongful imprisonment.
  • This loophole allows many innocently wronged individuals... ...to fall through the cracks of rightful
  • Specifically, the bill allows for compensation for those convictions that were reversed on any grounds
  • One, that an eligible indigent defendant be represented by counsel in a post-conviction habeas corpus
  • The fixes in House Bill 115 would ensure that innocent people convicted based on junk science have a
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Criminal Jurisprudence Apr 29th, 2025

Criminal Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • Would you agree with me that the state has the burden beyond a reasonable doubt to convict somebody?
  • convictions, and this committee has done a lot in that regard, particularly with the passage of the
  • that again, adding another tool in our toolbox to prohibit, minimize, and eliminate, if possible, wrongful
  • convictions.
  • I think this is another tool in the toolbox to minimize, if not eliminate. ...wrongful convictions, and
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Judgment of conviction must include the street address or legal description of the real property that's
  • If the glove doesn't fit, you cannot convict me. I'm glad. Thank you this morning.
  • We tried and convicted him, and so we're thankful for that, but it could have ended sooner.
  • Both he and his wife have been convicted. since this happened.
  • And I'm reading the wrong place. Chair moves that House Bill 3513.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Apr 9th, 2025

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • Walk in the wrong room?
  • I could be wrong, but it is a solution.
  • That's wrong, but I do...
  • He had convictions. They were 20 years ago.
  • Our husbands were doing nothing wrong.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Apr 9th, 2025

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • example, if a judge makes a ruling in a case and the media or someone posts on Facebook that it’s wrong
  • publicly disclose the number of hours that they spend sitting on the bench, we are incentivizing the wrong
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • We need an SCJC that believes what I'm going to talk about here is wrong.
  • It feels wrong, what do I do?"
  • It is wrong for a culture or a group of people to paint this as easy.
  • And fear that something was wrong.
  • I think murder is wrong, for sure.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary Feb 17th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • And so, would they open a file for these people even though they haven't been convicted of anything?
  • And if you get that wrong, let's say you say I lived at 123 Main Street and you actually lived at 234
  • So if you get that wrong, you forget, you flip numbers around.
  • I didn't do anything wrong.'
  • So, the wrongful termination whenever you're talking about those vested rights is what we're trying to
AL

Alabama 2026 1st Special Session

Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee Feb 18th, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • > with<00:14:34.640> those Which is nothing wrong with those Which is nothing wrong with those
  • , a second or changing what a conviction, a second or subsequent<00:35:55.320> conviction,<00:
  • conviction, the punishment will<00:35:56.480> be.
  • You know, I'm convicted, so what can I do?
  • I may be wrong. No, we have. Okay, never mind. I'll...
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, this is a wrongful conviction compensation bill.
  • By no means will any of us testify that it makes our wrongful conviction right.
  • By no means will any of us testify that it makes our wrongful conviction right.
  • Wrongful convictions are a grave injustice.
  • <00:48:04.400> conviction<00:48:05.400> uh and not just the wrongful conviction uh
Summary: The committee began with roll call and introductory remarks, including recognition of new members and guests. It then took up House Bill 38, sponsored by Representative Tipton, which would increase penalties for repeated violations of an order of protection. Under the committee substitute, a third violation involving the same order and same individual could be elevated from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony. Tipton and domestic violence survivor Maryanne Pratt testified in support, with Pratt describing repeated abuse, protective-order violations, and ongoing fear despite arrests and jail time. Several members spoke in favor of the bill and praised Pratt’s testimony. Members and outside witnesses raised concerns about the substitute’s language, especially the requirement that the same victim be involved and whether the bill could leave gaps for repeat abusers with different victims. Representative Burke and others questioned whether the conduct was already covered by stalking or assault statutes. Scott West, speaking for the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, argued that the bill could allow technical contempt findings to be used as predicate offenses and noted that existing assault and stalking laws already address much of the conduct. Sponsor Tipton said the language was not final and that further changes might be considered in the Senate. Despite the concerns, the committee adopted the substitute and passed HB 38 with favorable expression by a 19-0 vote. The committee then heard House Bill 206, sponsored by Representative Nemes, on wrongful conviction compensation. Nemes introduced exonerees and representatives from the Kentucky Innocence Project, and the substitute was adopted without objection. Testimony came from Paul Herd, who spent 20 years wrongfully convicted and described the difficulty of reentry, and Jon Acar, who said he was wrongly convicted as a teenager and spent years in custody and on parole. Both urged passage of the bill as overdue support for people exonerated after wrongful convictions.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • They still have not received compensation for their wrongful conviction, and Ian's over 25 years wrongfully
  • They still have not received compensation for their wrongful conviction, and Ian's over 25 years wrongfully
  • on their record which is conviction on their record which is wrongful<01:10:43.880> so<01:10:
  • <01:24:16.159> conviction<01:24:16.719> law under uh wrongful conviction law under
  • uh wrongful conviction law recommendation<01:24:18.199> here<01:24:18.480> to<01:24:18.679
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard SB 1231, which would repeal the Parentage Uniform Act of 1973 and update Hawaii’s parentage laws, including parts of the Uniform Parentage Act of 2017. Supporters said the current statutes are outdated and do not adequately address assisted reproduction, surrogacy, and modern family formation. The Attorney General’s office supported the bill with technical amendments, including conforming changes to the Probate Code and child support provisions, and several testifiers urged passage as a needed modernization of the law. A major point of disagreement was Part 10, which concerns donor anonymity. Some supporters, including members of the task force, the Uniform Law Commission, fertility and family law practitioners, and LGBTQ+ advocates, backed the bill as written or said it should move forward even if Part 10 is removed. Others, including donor-conceived adults, parents, and advocacy groups, opposed Part 10 and urged the committee to adopt the 2024 version of Article 9 or delete Part 10 entirely, arguing that anonymous donation harms donor-conceived people’s access to genetic, medical, and identity information and that anonymity is not realistic in the DNA-testing era. One task force member and attorney said she supported the bill but preferred removing Part 10 if necessary to pass the rest. The hearing included extensive public testimony both in support and opposition, with many individuals describing personal experiences with adoption, IVF, surrogacy, and donor conception. No committee vote or final action on the bill was taken during the portion of the hearing provided.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on the Judiciary Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • conviction litigation, and the Innocence Bar, which represents individuals seeking wrongful conviction
  • Wrongful conviction steals years, sometimes decades, from innocent people.
  • I served 39 years for wrongful conviction. I've been home.
  • I fought for 40 years in this wrongful conviction. I stayed in that law library.
  • I think five other wrongful convictions came home with me.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on several Judiciary bills, with the largest portion focused on S. 1178/H. 2052 to reduce mass incarceration and end life without parole. People incarcerated at MCI Framingham, MCI Norfolk, and NCCI Gardner described personal growth, rehabilitation, restorative justice work, family separation, and the belief that parole eligibility after long sentences would better reflect public safety and human development. Speakers emphasized that life without parole removes hope and can undermine rehabilitation, while supporters argued that many lifers are older, less likely to reoffend, and could contribute positively if given a chance at parole review. Committee members did not take votes during the hearing. The committee also heard testimony on S. 1139 to restore the statute of limitations for wrongful death claims involving tobacco use, with Sen. Keenan explaining that a recent SJC decision had cut off claims where the injured person did not sue within three years before death. He said the bill would restore families’ ability to seek redress in cases involving long-latency tobacco harms like COPD. Another major topic was S. 1205, which would add abusive litigation to the definition of coercive control in domestic violence law; Sen. Michael Moore said the bill would stop abusers from using repeated court filings to harass and financially burden survivors. The committee also took up S. 1114 on automatic record sealing, with Sen. Friedman and others arguing that the current petition-based process is slow, burdensome, and disproportionately harms people with criminal records, especially Black and Latino residents. Testimony also supported H. 1965/S. 1132 on compensation for wrongful conviction, with advocates and sponsors describing a faster administrative claims process, transitional support, and higher compensation without the current cap. Sen. Payano testified for S. 1241 to expand educational programming for incarcerated emerging adults, saying education reduces recidivism and improves reentry outcomes. A substantial portion of the hearing focused on S. 2522, an update to Massachusetts’ shield law for reproductive and gender-affirming care. Sen. Friedman, the Attorney General’s office, and DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said the bill is needed to strengthen protections against out-of-state legal attacks, protect patient and provider data, clarify enforcement authority, and add a state-level EMTALA-style emergency care requirement. Committee members asked detailed questions about prescription labeling, the prescription monitoring program, attorney discipline, custody and full faith and credit issues, and whether the bill’s enforcement language could create unintended limits or conflicts. The Attorney General’s office said it would provide follow-up written testimony on several technical questions.