Julie Jonas, now a law professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, served as the Great North Innocence Project’s inaugural attorney and legal director for nearly two decades. Prior to officially joining the then-Innocence Project of Minnesota (IPMN), Julie partnered with the organization’s founder, Jennifer Kramer, to plan the Innocence Ball to…
Read MoreJudge vacates Great North Innocence Project client’s decades-old murder conviction
Today, the Great North Innocence Project (GNIP) announced that North Dakota’s Ramsey County District Court has overturned Werner Rümmer-Kunkel’s 1995 murder conviction. Mr. Rümmer-Kunkel has spent 31 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Upon learning that his conviction was vacated, Mr. Rümmer-Kunkel said, “I refuse to let three decades of wrongful…
Read MoreReflections on 25 years of justice: A note from Executive Director Sara Jones
This year is the 25th Anniversary of the founding of what is now known as the Great North Innocence Project. In 2018, when I joined what was then the Innocence Project of Minnesota as executive director, I dove into an exploration of our organization’s history, reading through notes on its founding and early board meeting…
Read MoreGreat North Innocence Project to review number of embattled Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s cases
Great North Innocence Project to review number of embattled Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s cases
Today, the Great North Innocence Project (GNIP) announced that it will participate in Phase 3 of the independent review of Ramsey County cases involving the medical opinions of Dr. Michael McGee. Dr. McGee is the retired Chief Medical Examiner for Ramsey County and served in the role from 1985 to 2020.
Read MoreGreat North Innocence Project Applauds Gov. Walz and Minnesota Legislature for the Passage of Critical Innocence Reforms
As part of recently enacted criminal justice reform package, a new policy will provide safeguards against law enforcement lying to juveniles along with an amendment to a postconviction statute to prevent future injustices similar to the case of exoneree Marvin Haynes.
Read MoreJoin me in supporting GNIP’s freed clients: A message from exoneree Terry Olson
My name is Terry Olson and I am a proud 2016 GNIP exoneree. I first attended the Innocence Network Conference in 2018. Now, I invite you to join me in donating to the Great North Innocence Project’s campaign to send more freed and exonerated clients and their support people to this important event. I know…
Read MoreWelcoming GNIP’s newest Board members
The Great North Innocence Project is thrilled to welcome three new Board members to our already incredible team of leaders. With the addition of Dr. Susan Roe, Jazz Hampton, and Benjamin Vickers, our Board is gaining important perspectives in the areas of forensic pathology, organizational development, marketing, community engagement, diversity and inclusion, and law. Dr….
Read MoreThree legal interns join the Great North IP team for the summer
Ambika Patpatia, Anna Mae Engel, and Vinvent Dinolfo, are law students working with the Great North Innocence Project’s legal team this summer to investigate and litigate innocence cases. In this role, Ambika, Anna Mae, and Vincent are interviewing witnesses, investigating case details, supporting attorneys during hearings, and conducting research. Great North Innocence Project: Tell us…
Read MoreThe Making of an Innocence Attorney
On February 15, Great North Innocence Project Managing Attorney Jim Mayer joined friends and family of his very first innocence client to experience the height of any innocence attorney’s career: watching his client walk free from incarceration. The moment Michael Wearry exited Elayn Hunt Correctional Facility in Saint Gabriel, Louisiana, was a long time coming….
Read MoreFarewell to longtime GNIP Board Member Jon Hopeman
Jon Hopeman, longtime Great North Board member, has seen the Great North Innocence Project through numerous stages of organizational development; worked on innocence case litigation, including helping to free innocent Great North client Javon Davis from prison in 2020; and provided critical leadership during times of organizational transition. Current Great North Board Co-Chair Kevin Riach…
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