The Innocence Network is pleased to announce that the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence has been awarded the 2025 Champion of Justice Award. The Champion of Justice Award honors those who have gone above and beyond in championing the efforts that free the wrongfully convicted and reform the criminal justice system to prevent future wrongful convictions.

The members of the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence were nominated for this award by Mel LeRoy, managing director of the Innocence Project of Texas, for the extraordinary lengths they went through to not only thoroughly understand Robert Roberson’s case but also to improve the law to ensure that innocent men and women can get justice. The Committee held public hearings to investigate how and whether the state’s “junk science” law was being adjudicated, bringing in many legal and medical experts to testify about how “Shaken Baby Syndrome” has been discredited. When this overwhelming evidence still failed to put a stop to the execution, the Committee’s bold and unprecedented move of subpoenaing Robert to testify days after his scheduled execution, so as to force its delay, not only saved his life but also brought hope to many. The members of the Committee made these extraordinary efforts despite overwhelming political pressure and potential impact to their own careers. Their unwavering commitment to the fair and equal administration of justice in the face of enormous political risk make them exemplars of what it means to be true Champions of Justice.

They join the ranks of past Champion of Justice Award winners including Norris Henderson, the founder and Executive Director of Voice of the Experienced, the Comité Exijimos Justicia and Innocence Demand Justice; Larry Hammond, founder of the Arizona Justice Project; John Thompson, founder of Resurrection After Exoneration; and Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative.

The Innocence Network is pleased to announce that Dan Slepian has been awarded the 2025 Jim Dwyer Award for Journalism. The Jim Dwyer Award for Journalism honors outstanding reporting about wrongful convictions and the reform of the criminal legal system.

Dan Slepian was nominated for this award by Barry Scheck, co-founder and special counsel at the Innocence Project, for his remarkable work to highlight the experiences of the wrongfully convicted, and specifically for his investigation and coverage of the case of Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez in the The Sing Sing Chronicles, which eventually led to JJ’s exoneration For Dan, the cause of exonerating the innocent has become a consuming passion over the last quarter century, and he has found a way to communicate what he has learned not only in documentary form, but also in book and podcast form, to reach the widest audience and make the strongest possible impact. His compelling coverage of the stories of JJ Velazquez and other innocent men incarcerated at Sing Sing not only poignantly conveys the loneliness and despair of wrongful imprisonment but also importantly captures the harms of mass incarceration on all who are imprisoned.

Dan joins the ranks of past Jim Dwyer Award winners including Susan Simpson, Jacinda Davis and Kevin Fitzpatrick of the Proof podcast, Elisha Anderson of the Detroit Free Press, Luke Nozicka of The Kansas City Star, and Liliana Segura of The Intercept.

The Innocence Network is pleased to announce that Amanda Knox has been awarded the 2025 Impact Award. The Impact Award honors an exonerated or freed person who raises awareness of wrongful convictions, policy issues, or assists others post-release. Their work demonstrates a commitment to improving the criminal legal system and its outcomes or reducing the harm caused by the criminal legal system by working to help other freed people after their release.

Amanda Knox was nominated for this award by Lara Zarowsky, the executive director of the Washington Innocence Project, for her extensive contributions to the innocence movement. She has not only worked tirelessly to raise awareness of wrongful convictions and advocate for change, but she also has been a fierce supporter of her fellow members of the freed and exonerated community. Whether speaking at fundraising events for Innocence Network member organizations, testifying before state legislatures, writing articles and op-eds for widely-read national publications, or offering her time to support fellow freed and exonerated people, Amanda continues to use her substantial international platform to effectively raise awareness of wrongful convictions and advocate for systemic change for future generations on a scale unlike anyone else. Her dedication and generosity have already had an incredible impact, and her willingness to uplift the voices and experiences of others who have experienced wrongful conviction will continue to have a lasting impact for years to come.

Amanda joins the ranks of past Impact Award winners Andrew Wilson, founding donor of the Los Angeles Innocence Project, and Calvin Duncan, co-founder of Rising Foundations.

My life was obviously worth saving / So l was sent a helping hand  / He was disguised as a guardian angel / In the form of Dave Moran.

—From the poem “Saved” by Richard Phillips, who spent over 46 years in prison before being exonerated through the work of Dave Moran and the Michigan Innocence Clinic

Dave Moran was nominated for this award by the Innocence Network Executive Board in recognition of a lifetime of unwavering dedication to justice and the fight for the wrongfully convicted. As the co-founder and director of the Michigan Innocence Clinic (MIC), he has been instrumental in freeing 45 individuals, nearly all in cases with no DNA evidence. The effect of his advocacy extends far beyond Michigan, as he played a pioneering role in tackling complex forensic-science based cases in areas like Shaken Baby Syndrome/AHT and fire/arson investigation.

Dave’s approach to justice is informed by his scientific background, which he applied to unravel the most challenging cases. His strategic appellate work, including six U.S. Supreme Court arguments, has reshaped criminal justice standards nationwide. He has also contributed to key legal reforms in Michigan, such as access to DNA testing and wrongful conviction compensation bills, and his victories in the Michigan Supreme Court have set precedents that will protect vulnerable individuals from miscarriages of justice for years to come.

Through his mentorship of law students and fellow attorneys, Dave has trained the next generation of innocence advocates, ensuring that his impact extends far beyond his own cases. His humility and relentless commitment to fairness make him a true hero in the pursuit of justice. For his lifetime of advocacy, David Moran is most deserving of the Innocence Network's Lifetime Achievement Award.