Pro bono legal effort frees innocent man after seven years behind bars
February 27, 2013
It’s always gratifying to see good people do good work and get results. Hats off to our client Keker & Van Nest and our friends at The Innocence Project, whose tireless efforts resulted last week in the release of Ronald Ross. Ross was misidentified by a witness and wrongfully convicted of premeditated attempted murder in 2006. He served nearly seven years of a 25-to-life sentence.
Ross was represented by Elliot Peters, Jo Golub, Reid Mullen and David Rizk of Keker & Van Nest and Linda Starr and Seth Flagsberg of the Northern California Innocence Project at Santa Clara University School of Law. The attorneys and their investigative team unearthed new evidence that won Ross a new trial. After three days of evidentiary hearings, the Alameda district attorney joined the petition to drop the conviction.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the harrowing story is the amazing attitude of its protagonist. At a press conference this week in Keker & Van Nest’s offices, Ross not only displayed no trace of bitterness, he expressed that he’d like to spend the rest of his days helping troubled youth.
When our judicial system makes mistakes, it takes the relentless efforts of many people to ensure that justice is served in the end. Ronald Ross’s legal team reminds us of the best aspects of the legal profession. They have our congratulations and admiration.