Category: Smith/Allen

Our Press Release On the Smith/Allen Decision

January 30, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Robert B. Chatelle Executive Director, National Center for Reason and Justice mgr@ncrj.org In Unheard of Move, Court Rules to Imprison Defendants Who Were Previously Acquitted New York, NY—January 30, 2011 In an unprecedented and unconstitutional move, an American court has ruled to send two people to prison even… Continue reading Our Press Release On the Smith/Allen Decision

A Major Setback for the Cause of Justice

http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2011/01/27/ohio-supreme-court-reinstates-head-start-convictions-smith-allen-to-return-to-prison/ We are saddened and outraged by this tragic development. Nancy Smith and Joseph Allen are both fine people, innocent of the outrageous charges against them.They will continue to have the full support of the National Center for Reason and Justice. We will fight for them — and other innocents — until justice is achieved.… Continue reading A Major Setback for the Cause of Justice

Smith/Allen Case Going to Ohio Supreme Court

This article appeared in today’s Lorain Ohio Morning Journal: http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2010/10/28/news/doc4cc9799d53fd3804988337.txt. Let’s hope that the Ohio Supreme Court does the right thing and lets Joseph Allen and Nancy Smith get on with their lives.

Ohio Prosecutors Refuse to Give Up

After reviewing the court records, including videotapes of child witnesses, Lorain County Judge James Burge acquitted Nancy Smith and Joseph Allen of all charges of child molestation — nonexistent crimes for which the two served 14 years behind bars. Now Lorain County prosecutors are trying to send them back to prison. See http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2009/12/01/prosecutors-seek-to-jail-smith-and-allen/

The Smith-Allen Case is Over!

From the Executive Director: This morning I received the wonderful news that the acquittals in the Smith/Allen case will stand. The case is over! http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2009/10/07/acquittals-in-head-start-case-to-stand/ I called Joseph to congratulate him right after I heard the news, and discovered that he didn’t know about it yet. (Joseph is in Boston visiting his brother.) When I… Continue reading The Smith-Allen Case is Over!

After 16 years, a courageous judge voids the wrongful convictions of Nancy Smith and Joseph Allen.

Roxbury, Massachusetts June 24, 2009 The NCRJ congratulates Lorain (OH) Common Pleas Judge James Burge for his courage in ordering the acquittals of Joseph Allen and Nancy Smith. Only 15 days ago, another of the NCRJ’s many cases came to a successful conclusion when Berkshire (MA) County District Attorney David Capeless decided to no longer… Continue reading After 16 years, a courageous judge voids the wrongful convictions of Nancy Smith and Joseph Allen.