Authors Jim and Nancy Petro to Hold Lecture on How the Innocent are Convicted

Jim and Nancy Petro, authors of the book “False Justice – Eight Myths That Convict the Innocent,” will visit The University of Akron School of Law on Thursday, March 14 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. for a lecture titled “How We Convict the Innocent (and How We Can Stop).”

Jim and Nancy Petro’s book examines the flaws in America’s justice system which have led to an unacceptable number of wrongful criminal convictions. As Ohio Attorney General, Jim Petro was confronted with the spectre of mistaken conviction when the guilt of several prisoners  was called into question. Since leaving that position, he has worked with the Ohio Innocence Project and others on ways to avoid mistaken convictions.  In “False Justice” and the upcoming lecture, the Petros detail the eight myths of our justice system which produce these mistakes.

“We are tremendously honored to have Jim and Nancy Petro at the School of Law to discuss how our trust in the criminal justice system is sometimes misguided. Improving the reliability of that system is an aim everyone shares, and their contributions to that effort are immeasurable,” says Professor Margery Koosed, who teaches criminal law and procedure at the School of Law.

The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will take place at Akron Law, 150 University Ave., Room 151. Registration is not required. A reception will immediately follow the lecture, during which the authors will hold a book signing.

Jim Petro is a former Republican Attorney General of Ohio. Throughout his 35-year career as an attorney and 28-year career as an elected public office holder, he has been publicly committed to strong law-and-order platforms. As Ohio Auditor of State, he and his team cleaned up a corrupt office and performed audits that led to the criminal conviction of an unprecedented 110 public officials in Ohio. His tenure as Attorney General was marked by a nation-leading effort that added 210,000 DNA profiles from Ohio felons and misdemeanants to the national DNA Codis database. This effort resulted in the immediate solving of dozens of cold cases, hundreds over the ensuing months and years. He was instrumental in passage of Ohio’s Innocence Protection Legislation (SB 77), a model for reform around the country. Jim Petro most recently served as Chancellor of the Board of Regents of the State of Ohio, working to improve Ohio’s higher education system.

Nancy Petro has 35 years of full-time experience in marketing, publishing, and business management and has taken an active role in her husband's political career.

The University of Akron School of Law promotes justice, the protection of individual liberty and the rule of law through commitment to excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. The law school features a nationally-recognized program in intellectual property, as well as one of four Constitutional Law Centers in the United States. To learn more, visit www.uakron.edu/law.