Downstate Illinois Innocence Project®
Advisory Board
The Project receives advice and guidance from a distinguished Advisory Board whose members are drawn from the defense bar, the State Appellate Defender, law enforcement, crime laboratories, citizen and advocacy groups, relevant state and local agencies, colleges and universities. Responsibilities of the Advisory Board are to: advise the Project on the overall policies and operations of the project; suggest possible cases, experts, and speakers; build support for the Project in the community, and help the Project gain access to funding and other types of support. The Board meets at least quarterly in Springfield. Meetings are scheduled immediately after work to encourage the broadest attendance.
The following individuals serve on the advisory board to the innocence project.
Sister Maira Barry
Sr. Catherine of Siena Convent
Alva Busch
Retired Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigator
Bill Clutter
Private Investigator
Kathryn Eisenhart
Attorney and Associate Professor of Legal Studies
University of Illinois at Springfield
Nancy Ford
Professor Emeritus of Legal Studies and Public Affairs
University of Illinois at Springfield
Kelly Gidcumb
Administrative Law Judge, Illinois Human Rights Commission
Illinois Human Rights Commission
Larry Golden
Professor Emeritus of Political Studies and Legal Studies
University of Illinois at Springfield
Ted Gottfried
Retired Attorney and Director of the Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender
John Hanlon
Attorney for the Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender
Jonathan Hess
Emeritus Professor Psychology, Psychologist & Expert Witness in Criminal Cases
University of Illinois at Springfield
Archie Lawrence
Attorney for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office & NAACP
Mike Metnick
Criminal Defense Attorney
Brian Otwell
Attorney and Sangamon County Public Defender
Dennis Rendleman
Attorney and Assistant Professor of Legal Studies
University of Illinois at Springfield
Sheila Stocks-Smith
Special Assistant for Education and Liaison for the Mayor of the City of Springfield
Steve Spearie
Criminal Investigator for the Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender
Charlie Wheeler
Director of the Public Affairs Reporting Program
University of Illinois at Springfield