Justice Sotomayor: IJLA Client James Skinner was Wrongly Convicted
“[T]he amount and significance of the additional suppressed evidence here is staggering.” – Sonia Sotomayor
Recently, we received a significant update in our long-running litigation for James Skinner. We had asked the United States Supreme Court to review Mr. Skinner’s conviction because the Louisiana state courts had refused to grant Mr. Skinner postconviction relief and had barely given any reasons. The U.S. Supreme Court had reversed the conviction of Mr. Skinner’s co-defendant, Michael Wearry, in 2016 because his lawyers uncovered significant favorable suppressed evidence that undermined the State’s case against him. We asked the Court to do the same for Mr. Skinner based on the same suppressed evidence and much more that IJLA had uncovered in its investigation.
The U.S. Supreme Court receives thousands of petitions every year and only hears a handful of cases. For a case like Mr. Skinner’s, where he still has open litigation in federal court, it is very unusual for the Court to intervene. While seven justices voted to allow Mr. Skinner to continue to seek remedies in federal court rather than granting an immediate reversal of his conviction, Justice Sotomayor, joined by Justice Jackson, wrote an 18-page dissent from that decision and insisted that Mr. Skinner was entitled to the same relief that Mr. Wearry had received—and right now. She wrote:
Equal justice under law, the phrase engraved on the front of this Court’s building, requires that two codefendants, convicted of the same crime, who raised essentially the same constitutional claims, receive the same answer from the courts. Here, because the Louisiana courts refused to apply this Court’s Brady precedents, including a decision by this Court involving the very same evidence, Skinner risks spending the rest of his life in prison while Wearry walks free.
While we are disappointed that Mr. Skinner’s fight for freedom must continue through the federal courts (through a process called federal habeas litigation), we are uplifted that the arguments IJLA has been making on his behalf for more than nine years have now been affirmed by justices on the Highest Court of the Land. We have more confidence than ever that we will be able to bring him home.
Louisiana Supreme Court Lowers Keith Ezidore’s Bail
Keith Ezidore’s conviction was overturned last summer. Earlier this year, after a bail hearing at which IJLA presented much evidence about Mr. Ezidore’s health, family support, and the weakness of the State’s case against him, a district court judge in St. James Parish set his bail at $1 million. This week, the Louisiana Supreme Court granted IJLA’s writ and ordered Keith Ezidore’s bail amount reduced to not more than $100,000—a 90% reduction—and to do so within fifteen days. Once the district court judge imposes the lower bail amount, we will be working with Mr. Ezidore’s family to help ensure he can be released as soon as possible. Stay tuned for updates on Mr. Ezidore’s freedom!
POLICY UPDATES
Senate Bill 125 Continues to Advance, Unanimously
On Wednesday, April 29, Senate Bill 125 advanced unanimously…again. This time out of the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice, marking another significant step forward in the effort to fairly compensate those who have been wrongfully convicted.
Currently, the law provides $40,000 per year for up to 10 years only. SB 125 will expand it to 15 years. While no monetary figure could fully compensate for this type of injustice, the growing bipartisan recognition represents an understanding of the need for accountability and repair.
The bill now moves to the House floor for consideration.
Pictured above is our Executive Director, Jee Park, and Staff Attorney Zac Crawford standing alongside our client, Wilbert Jones, and his wife, Mary, whose testimony has moved legislators to support this bill, highlighting the power of sharing the realities of those directly impacted.
IN THE COMMUNITY
On April 23, our Client Service Division hosted our first-ever Community Gathering Game Tournament. In a true friendly spirit, clients and their families competed for prizes (and bragging rights) in games of domino, spades, and chess. We send a special thank you to Paladar 511, Toups Meatery, Turkey and the Wolf, Saint Pizza, and Nike for their donations.
On April 26, the 2nd Annual “Win It for Wilbert” Walk-a-Thon, organized by the incredible students of the Innocence Club at LSU, brought together students, advocates, and community members in an effort to raise awareness and support for Wilbert Jones, an IJLA client who spent 46 years wrongfully behind bars. After his release, Mr. Jones worked on LSU’s campus, where he built a lasting relationship with the students and staff.
On April 16, we welcomed a group of high school students from the Drew School of San Francisco. IJLA’s Deputy Director Meredith Angelson spoke about the history of IJLA and postconviction litigation in Louisiana, and Peer Mentor Jerome Morgan shared his personal story. The students asked many thoughtful and insightful questions.
UPCOMING EVENTS
IJLA is honored to once again participate in GiveNOLA Day. To celebrate our previous and future supporters, on May 5th, we’re hosting a Block Party for Justice in partnership with The Domino Lounge from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
We invite you and your family to enjoy an evening of community! We’ll have beans by Luci Beans, oysters by Oysters Dandy, and tunes by DJ Messy. A portion of all proceeds benefits IJLA.
This year, we have a goal of $90,000 and a $37,500 match already on the table. Even the smallest of gifts helps us reach this goal and fuel our fight for freedom. Ready to give? Early giving is LIVE!
We invite you to an evening of conversation focused on the crisis of excessive sentencing. Too Much Time: Excessive Sentencing in Shreveport, LA aims to raise awareness about the realities faced by individuals and families impacted by harsh sentencing practices in Caddo Parish.
The evening will feature a screening of How Long is Long Enough: The Excessive Sentencing of Quntos & Layla, followed by a panel discussion with community leader Terrance Winn from PIPES and other voices working toward needed reform.
Event Details | May 7, 2026
Robinson Film Center
617 Texas St, Shreveport, LA 71101
Evening Timeline
Doors Open: 7:00 PM
Film Screening: 7:30 PM
Panel Discussion: 7:45 PM