Job Opening: Innocence Project: Eyewitness Identification-Litigation Fellow

The Innocence Project is a national litigation and public policy organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people through DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system to avoid future injustice. The Innocence Project’s Policy Department takes the lessons learned from wrongful convictions and promotes procedural and policy reforms that can prevent their recurrence. To this end, the department implements national and state-based campaigns to change the criminal justice system.

The Innocence Project is seeking an Eyewitness Identification Litigation Fellow, which will work with both the Policy and Litigation departments. This is a two-year fellowship to continue the Innocence Project’s existing work in this area. The ideal Fellow would have 2-4 years experience litigating in criminal proceedings and be familiar with eyewitness identification litigation issues. The Fellow should expect to administer all of the education, advocacy, and litigation efforts needed to facilitate strategic eyewitness identification reform litigation nationwide.

The specific responsibilities of the Fellow are to:

• Provide substantive direction and support on specific litigation arguments being made by strategic eyewitness identification litigators nationwide;
• Work with public and private defender organizations to train and organize for effective eyewitness identification litigation;
• Attract defense litigators nationwide to our EyeID.org eyewitness litigation resource website;
• Track and as appropriate log and share the latest scientific articles and case decisions related to eyewitness identification issues;
• Organize briefs and support materials for litigator access,
• Oversee maintenance of all facets of EyeID.org;
• Coordinate amicus/litigation work with pro bono partners;
• Present eyewitness identification research and legal issues to legal audiences;
• Testify before legislatures and address eyewitness reform issues with policymakers as appropriate; and
• Ensure that major opportunities to advance or defend reform through litigation channels are met.

While this position has a nationwide focus, the fellow would also specifically work with the New York City and New York State public defender agencies and other defender organizations to help provide litigation trainings and identify the right identification cases for appellate arguments.

Greatly appreciated are candidates with the demonstrated ability to:

• Remain organized amidst multiple, competing demands;
• Relate well to different types of people;
• Work with multidisciplinary staff in a collaborative and fast paced setting;
• Have the ability and willingness to travel; and
• Keep a sense of humor throughout.

The position is based in NYC. The salary is competitive and the position offers great benefits. Please email a brief cover letter, resume and two writing samples to: hr6@innocenceproject.org
subject: Eyewitness I.D. Fellow. All .zip file attachments will be deleted and unread. No phone calls, please.

The Innocence Project is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity.

http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/Eyewitness_IdentificationLitigat...