Cheri Hayden’s Conviction is Definitively Overturned

After being overturned TWICE by the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal, on November 19, 2025, the Louisiana Supreme Court declined to intervene in Cheri Hayden’s case. Cheri Hayden’s conviction has been definitively overturned. Innocence & Justice Louisiana will be filing for bail so that she can be released.

Cheri’s conviction was first overturned by the Fifth Circuit in 2022 because of her trial lawyer’s failure to do any investigation of her alibi, or of the real perpetrator of the crime. Unfortunately, the Louisiana Supreme Court reversed that decision and sent her case back to the Fifth Circuit for review of her other claims. On July 2, 2025, the Fifth Circuit said, again, in a lengthy opinion that Cheri’s trial was not fair and declared what we have long known: that the State’s witness testified falsely to secure her wrongful conviction, and that she is INNOCENT. On November 19, after carefully reviewing the facts, the Louisiana Supreme Court let that determination stand.

It is now up to the Jefferson Parish District Attorney to decide whether to retry her or dismiss the charge against her. Given that five witnesses have stated that another woman, not Cheri, committed the crime, justice demands that all charges be dismissed and that she be freed. IJLA has been fighting to clear Cheri’s name for nearly 10 years. We will keep fighting for her until she is fully exonerated.