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Duval County Courthouse, Florida

Wrongful Convictions Field Clinic

Students in the Wrongful Convictions Clinic, directed by Professor Sarah H. Wolking, investigate claims of factual innocence made by individuals who have been convicted of felonies in the Fourth Judicial Circuit. Under faculty supervision, students review applications and analyze case materials, including police reports, depositions as well as trial and appellate transcripts, to pursue post-conviction relief. They learn from national specialists about the causes of wrongful convictions and work closely with the Director of the Conviction Integrity Review Unit at the State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit, collaborating with experienced criminal practitioners and experts.

Sarah Wolking headshot
Professor Sarah H. Wolking
Director

Student Experience

Jessica Terkovich

“The Wrongful Convictions Clinic gave me a hands-on experience like no other. The clinic introduced me to the common missteps and oversights that can lead to an innocent person serving time for a crime they did not commit, and to the challenges of re-evaluating those cases long after the trial process has concluded. I still use the tools I learned in the clinic to screen my own cases as a prosecutor today. Participating in the clinic taught me a lot about how proof ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ can be consciously or unconsciously manufactured if the proper safeguards are not in place, and how prosecutorial accountability extends well beyond the natural life cycle of a case.”

— Jessica Terkovich (JD 22)
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, Norfolk, VA

Students learn by doing. Typical tasks include:

  • Screening and case selection focused on the petitioner’s claims and a factual assessment of the case
  • Record review and investigative work involving transcript review, locating and interviewing witnesses, and building a timeline
  • Evidence analysis of forensic reports and scientific advances
  • Client communication
  • Memo writing
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration with subject-matter experts

Community Impact

Clinic matters address systemic drivers of wrongful conviction, including mistaken eyewitness identification, false confessions, misuse of informants, flawed forensic evidence, mistakes and misconduct by law enforcement officials, inadequate defense representation, as well as the legal barriers to post-conviction relief, and the use of DNA and non-DNA evidence to achieve justice. Students contribute to investigations, post-conviction filings and policy-oriented comment letters that aim to strengthen accuracy and fairness in Florida’s criminal justice system.

UF Law students have worked on 150 cases since we started working with the Conviction Integrity Review Unit in the summer of 2020. Out of those, two led to exoneration: Willie Williams, Jr. and Edward Taylor. We welcome collaboration with community organizations, innocence partners and experts who support post-conviction investigation and litigation.

Wrongful Conviction Clinic students engage in case rounds during class, defining feature of clinical legal education. During case rounds, students present their cases, offer suggestions, and brainstorm next steps.
Wrongful Conviction Clinic students engage in case rounds during class, defining feature of clinical legal education. During case rounds, students present their cases, offer suggestions, and brainstorm next steps.
The Wrongful Conviction Clinic hosted an event featuring award-winning journalist Barbara Bradley Hagerty and Ben Spencer, the subject of Ms. Hagerty’s book.
The Wrongful Conviction Clinic hosted an event featuring award-winning journalist Barbara Bradley Hagerty and Ben Spencer, the subject of Ms. Hagerty’s book.
Wrongful Conviction Clinic students welcomed special guests Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gilbert King, and Leo Schofield, the subject of Mr. King’s Bone Valley podcast and book. Pictured from left to right: Cooper Whisnant, Emma Towler, Kourtney Booster, Victoria Murray, Lauren Austin, Beri Bastian, Professor Sarah Wolking, Leo Schofield, Gilbert King, Ada Cruz, David Isleib, Alani Day, Olivia Potthast, Xianjun Liang, Teresa Zepeda, Josh Allen
Wrongful Conviction Clinic students welcomed special guests Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gilbert King, and Leo Schofield, the subject of Mr. King’s Bone Valley podcast and book.
Pictured from left to right: Cooper Whisnant, Emma Towler, Kourtney Booster, Victoria Murray, Lauren Austin, Beri Bastian, Professor Sarah Wolking, Leo Schofield, Gilbert King, Ada Cruz, David Isleib, Alani Day, Olivia Potthast, Xianjun Liang, Teresa Zepeda, Josh Allen

Contact

For inquiries about case referrals or partnerships, please contact the Law Clinics Office at (352) 273-0800.

Sarah Wolking headshot

Sarah H. Wolking

Director
wolking@law.ufl.edu
Learn more about Professor Wolking