CLI-2045: Clinic: Innocence (2nd semester)

Students work side-by-side with staff attorneys in the Innocence Project of Minnesota as they investigate and litigate inmates' claims of actual innocence. These investigations go to the heart of current issues in the criminal justice system, such as the reliability of eyewitness identification, the problem of false confessions, the use of snitches and informants, government misconduct, ineffective assistance of counsel, and forensic sciences including DNA testing. Class time is divided among class work, discussion of cases, and periodic guest speakers selected both for the general subject matter and for the specific cases under review. This clinic puts students on the cutting edge of scientific and social science issues that affect the practice of law in the criminal justice system as well as hands-on experience in managing and analyzing large-scale cases for litigation. This clinic is a full-year clinic that carries 3 credits per semester in the fall and spring. Students may not register for more than one clinic during the same semester without the consent of both instructors. Students may not drop a clinic course online later than one week prior to the start of the semester. Students may drop through the add/drop deadline by using the drop form found on the registrar's website. Students may participate remotely in this clinic. For students who participate remotely, this clinic is considered a distance education course and credits earned will count toward distance education courses. Students may take up to 41 credits under the 83-credit requirement (43 under the 86-credit requirement) toward their J.D. degree through courses that are designated 'distance education courses. PreReq: CLI- 1045 & LAW- 2015