Supervisors and Advocates Call for Preservation of Innocence Commission that Exonerated Joaquin Ciria

SAN FRANCISCO — On Wednesday morning, Supervisor Dean Preston and representatives for Supervisor Hillary Ronen joined criminal justice advocates who gathered in front of City Hall to urge interim District Attorney Brooke Jenkins to preserve the San Francisco District Attorney’s Innocence Commission, which currently operates in partnership with the University of San Francisco (USF) School of Law’s Racial Justice Clinic. Supervisors Preston and Ronen jointly introduced a resolution at the Board of Supervisors this week urging newly-appointed District Attorney Jenkins to do so.

The Innocence Commission, established in September 2020, takes a unique approach to reviewing and investigating potential wrongful conviction cases. The independent commission also has its own charter, a diverse membership, and a mandate to seek truth and vindicate justice by reinvestigating colorable claims of wrongful conviction and making written recommendations to the District Attorney. Under the current charter, the District Attorney gives great weight to the Innocence Commission’s recommendations but retains final discretion on all cases.

“If we truly believe in justice, we have to include justice for people who are wrongfully convicted or imprisoned by our system,” stated Preston. “The Innocence Commission has proven that it can fairly and efficiently do the difficult work to address harms perpetrated against individuals on behalf of the People, and we should be doing everything in our power to make sure it can continue its crucial work.”

Despite its short time in existence, the Innocence Commission re-investigated the case of Joaquin Ciria, who was exonerated by the District Attorney based on the Commission’s recommendation after Ciria spent 32 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Ciria was released in April 2022 and spoke at the press conference via telephone in support of the work of the Innocence Commission. The Innocence Commission made a recommendation in a second case, and a third case is currently pending.

“Three months ago, Joaquin Ciria, a man who spent more than three decades behind bars for a murder he did not commit, was exonerated due to the work of the San Francisco District Attorney’s Innocence Commission,” stated Supervisor Hillary Ronen. “Lara Bazelon and her team work tirelessly to help overturn wrongful convictions and give those who thought they might die in prison a chance to go home. As the Supreme Court continues to claw away at our civil rights and liberties, it’s crucial that we keep the Innocence Commission intact as a safeguard to the administration of justice”

Commission members currently include Judge LaDoris Cordell (Ret.), Chief Attorney for the SFDA Post Conviction Unit Arcelia Hurtado, Deputy Public Defender Jacque Wilson, Dr. Michael Meade, and USF Professor Lara Bazelon, who bring to their work a wide range of professional experience as well as diversity across race, ethnicity, and gender.

“On behalf of the Commission, we want to express our deepest appreciation to Supervisor Preston, Supervisor Ronen, and the Board of Supervisors for recognizing the crucial importance of our work–work that is painstaking, complicated, and offered pro bono in service of the District Attorney’s duty to see that justice is done,” said Professor Lara Bazelon, the Innocence Commission’s Chair. “It is an honor for the five of us to serve on the Commission and that’s what we want to continue to do because there are more wrongfully convicted people whose claims need to be heard by independent and fair-minded experts.”

The resolution will be heard at the full Board of Supervisors on July 19.

###