California Western School of Law Resumes Innocence Work

After a brief hiatus, innocence work has resumed at California Western School of Law (CWSL). 

Professor Amy Kimpel is still slated to begin her CWSL tenure as Associate Professor and Executive Director of California Western’s innocence program on July 1, 2024. Professor Kimpel is currently Associate Professor of Clinical Legal Instruction and Director of the Criminal Defense Clinic at the University of Alabama.

In the interim, CWSL has partnered with California Innocence Advocates (Cal-IA) to continue the work of freeing the innocent and preparing zealous legal advocates. Cal-IA is a nonprofit corporation with a mission that aligns with the school’s: to free the wrongfully imprisoned in California, amplify the voices of the innocent, and help rebuild the lives of freed clients.  

Megan D. Baca, the founder of Cal-IA, will serve as the Interim Director and Managing Attorney for the program, taking over the management of California Western’s innocence services. CWSL administration will be collaborating with Ms. Baca and Cal-IA attorneys to provide ongoing volunteer training opportunities for CWSL students. 

Ms. Baca has a proven track record of dedicated innocence work. Since 2017, she has helped to free ten individuals who were wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit. Prior to founding California Innocence Advocates, Ms. Baca worked as the Assistant Legal Director and Director of Investigations at Loyola Project for the Innocent (LPI), where she taught and trained law students on wrongful conviction, and post-conviction investigation and litigation. Before Loyola, Ms. Baca worked with Northern California Innocence Project out of Santa Clara University, School of Law. 

Additionally, the name of California Western’s innocence program will be changing in the coming months. The clinic’s purpose will remain unchanged, and the new name will reflect California Western’s commitment to innocence and post-conviction work.