Michael Moore, Reprieve Fellow 2007-8
Michael Moore worked as an intern investigator at A Fighting Chance in New Orleans for nearly two years while working on a BA degree from Tulane University. Michael is using his one-year Reprieve Fellowship with A Fighting Chance to channel a reliable recruitment stream of potential capital defense investigators to meet the needs of capital cases in Louisiana. Currently in Louisiana there are more cases than there are qualified investigators to support them, and as a result facts go unchecked and death sentences are handed down that would not otherwise be imposed. Michael is working to relieve this situation by recruiting new investigators from local undergraduate schools and streamlining their training and subsequent placement. Michael also provides direct investigation services on capital cases.
In my year working with Reprieve I was able to participate in a hearing that revealed some of the most extraordinary bravery of human kind. Multiple witnesses testified who had been harassed and beaten by officers because they were simply in the same area as the suspects. They were beaten, stripped of their clothes, and taken to a cell. The electricity was cut, and they were hosed down naked in their cells– all in an attempt to break them, and force them to cooperate with the state. In all, the ordeal lasted almost 8 hours. At this hearing, the courtroom was filled with many of the same officers who were involved in the beatings. The witnesses had not moved since the original victimization and had great reason to suspect that testifying to what occurred would only cause more harassment and beatings by those men. Despite this, they testified to the villainous acts that had occurred. I was proud to be able to help these people tell their story, and find a voice– only knowing– we will be their witnesses. They were able to face their attackers and confront them in open court. It was obvious at the time that no matter what the ruling of the court, that confronting the suspects may help to stop the officer’s from continuing their campaign of torment at the facility.
For information on how you can become a Reprieve Fellow, click here
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