Lecturer’s convictions lead to discussion

October 15, 2009 by Leslie Ventura 

UNLV speaker will discuss how DNA and other forms of evidence are essential to judicial process

Discussing cases of wrongful convictions, UNLV law professor Kate Kruse will speak Sunday at a local Humanist membership meeting.

Titled “Wrongful Convictions: Causes and Reforms,” Kruse’s lecture will be accompanied by commentary from three of her students.

Joanna Myers, John Wickett and Chan Lengsavath will share their insights and experiences from working in the Innocence Clinic at UNLV, a program dedicated to helping free wrongfully convicted Nevada state prisoners with DNA evidence.
The Humanist Association of Las Vegas and Southern Nevada told Kruse they were interested in learning about social justice issues.

“I knew that she was someone that Humanists would be interested in,” said HALVASON board member, Bob Hannah. “What more human cause is there than justice and freeing of innocent people?”
Kruse will be discussing cases that have been analyzed by the Innocence Clinic at UNLV.

According to Kruse, the Innocence Clinic is a collaborative effort between the William S. Boyd School of Law and the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center, a project spread through the states of Utah, Wyoming and Nevada. The Boyd School of Law Web site explains why the analysis of these cases is so important.

“Since the first DNA exoneration in 1989, close to 250 people have now been proven to be innocent of crimes for which they were convicted,” it states. “In some of these cases, the evidence of guilt looked overwhelming.”

The post-conviction remedies and legislative reform projects that Kruse and her students have been a part of piqued the interest of HALVASON’s board.

According to their website, HALVASON “is a nonprofit, educational organization whose main purpose is to promote humanism as a viable alternative to supernatural and theistic belief systems.”

In an effort to provide their members with an environment that promotes Jeffersonian principles of government, free inquiry and secular ethical systems, the organization hosts meetings and forums frequently.

“When the topic of filling speaking dates came up at the HALVASON board meeting, Kate [Kruse] and her work leapt to mind immediately,” Hannah said.

Kruse said she will discuss many flaws of our justice system, including witness identification and forensics problems.
“I think part of our mission is to educate the public,” Kruse said.

Investigating post-conviction cases, Kruse will discuss instances where people were believed to be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt but were later found to be innocent. 

“I think it’s a very important issue for people to understand,” Kruse said.
While Humanism may not be directly related to the studies of Kruse and her students, the topic will make for an interesting discussion regarding ethics and government, Kruse said.

“There is a spiritual branch of Humanism, but most Humanists are strictly secular when it comes to the relationships among government, societal institutions and the governed,” Hannah said. “I’m so happy that [Kruse] will be speaking to us.”

Kruse and her students will speak at the Library Program Room at 833 N. Las Vegas Blvd. at 2 p.m.