Georgia Innocence Project sat down with pro bono volunteer Susan Hurd to learn about her experience supporting our case-screening efforts. Through a focused case screening project, Susan and her team at Alston & Bird are lending their expertise to review one case in depth—analyzing a trial transcript and helping identify whether a case with a strong claim of innocence may move forward toward potential representation.
A Thorough Review
Alston & Bird has a history of partnering as co-counsel when Georgia Innocence Project requires the resources of a large firm to present the best arguments to the court. But Susan hoped to be a part of the earlier work at the case screening stage.
“I wanted to look at the record that convicted the person and assess whether they had postconviction relief options and their actual innocence. And you all had a need for that. I was ready to roll up my sleeves, get down in the details, and really own it,” Hurd remarked.
She was given a thousand page trial transcript for unconditioned review. Georgia Innocence Project intentionally provided just the trial record to aim for objectivity and unbiased assessment. Susan started reading. Page after page, she expected to hit a moment when the facts would clearly point to guilt, a detail that would settle it.
“Every time I turned a page, I thought, this might be the moment where I realize the person did it or it’s too gray,” shared Hurd.
But that never came. Instead, the deeper Susan went, the more she questioned the verdict.
Reasonable Doubt
Even when there is appropriate due process and a functioning judicial system, innocent people are still put behind bars. As Susan used her legal expertise to review the trial transcript, she noted inconsistencies and weaknesses in the prosecution’s case. The disconnect between what exists in the trial record and what may have resonated in the courtroom was a striking part of her volunteer experience.
“There was reasonable doubt all over the place,” Hurd mused. “The prosecutor put forth a theory of motive that they didn’t prove…and leaned on incentivized testimony.”
But jurors aren’t reading transcripts or analyzing arguments at a distance, like an attorney in post-conviction review. They are reacting in real time, filtering information through their own assumptions and interpretations.
“There’s a tendency for people to trust the process and assume that if a case made it to trial, and law enforcement invested time and resources identifying a defendant, that carries weight. That assumption can be hard to overcome, even when there is little to no actual evidence of guilt,” said Hurd.
“You can have a fair judge, capable defense, and things still go awry….My view is that this defendant did not commit the crime, that another individual who figures very prominently in the facts in the trial is the person who actually committed the crime. And that person cooperated and got charges dropped against them for testifying,” Hurd added.
Why Innocence Work Matters
The legal system is shaped by human judgment at every stage. Mistakes can arise from misinterpretation, incomplete analysis, or the limits of time and resources, leading to wrongful convictions. And that’s where Georgia Innocence Project and volunteers like Susan step in, to try to correct them.
“Once you encounter one person where you feel like there’s been a miscarriage of justice that you can point to, it’s tangible. Then you want to keep doing this because there’s a need. And I want to see this one through,” declared Hurd.
While she helps people in commercial litigation in her day-to-day practice, this is different; the potential impact is incredibly personal.
“If someone had done this kind of review earlier… things might have turned out differently. It’s inspiring to know that what I’m doing could help a human being who is in great need…I take it very seriously, a person’s life is at stake and their freedom. And I do not make light of that. The collaborative effort of trying to piece together the facts, strategizing about what’s wrong with an argument, what do we think really happened, etc. is something that I have really enjoyed. It has been a great experience discussing this case with Christina Cribbs (at Georgia Innocence Project) who I meet with on a regular basis. Hopefully we have a good outcome,” said Hurd.
Susan plans to present her case to the legal team at Georgia Innocence Project in the coming month. Our work to prevent and correct wrongful convictions in Georgia is only possible because of the commitment of pro bono partners like Susan and her team. We’re honored to collaborate with so many dedicated firms and individuals.
Meet the other partners who support this mission through our Annual Giving Campaign.
Interested in pro bono opportunities? Reach out to us at gip@georgiainnocenceproject.org.