We had another terrific day in Los Angeles:

After serving over 20 years of a life sentence under the Three Strikes law for a nonviolent drug crime, our longtime client Michael Stone was ordered released!

Yesterday afternoon, the LA Superior Court issued a 17-page order granting our petition to vacate Michael’s life sentence under Proposition 36, dismissing arguments by the LA District Attorney that Michael presented an imminent threat to public safety and should remain in prison for the rest of his life. Yet again, our incomparable staff attorney Susan Champion did an outstanding job in court, countering the DA’s arguments with evidence from Michael’s participation in prison rehabilitative programming, lack of violence, poor health, and comprehensive reentry plan. Three expert witnesses were called to present evidence on Michael’s psychiatric health, in-prison behavior, and deteriorating physical condition. Michael is 58 years old and suffers from joint disease on his spine (which required a shunt to drain fluid), hypertension, edema in his lower extremities, Valley Fever, asthma and other ailments. We will make sure he is cared for when he is released (hopefully next week).

Congratulations also our incredible students Adam Lewis (SLS ’17) and Jun Feng (SLS ’15) who drafted our pleadings, rebutted the DA’s misinterpretation of relevant law, and combed Michael’s prison record for helpful evidence. We couldn’t do this work without you!

It will take a few days for Michael to be released as the court’s paperwork clears through the system. As with all of our clients, Michael will be met at the prison gates by our Ride Home team, which we developed in partnership with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition and the Obama White House. The Ride Home team will provide immediate and intensive reentry support and ultimately bring Michael to a comprehensive residential reentry program that will help him reunite with his family, reintegrate to society, and care for his medical and mental health needs. We couldn’t be happier for him!

Thank you all, yet again, for your continuing support!