Professor Elizabeth Cole joins Nebraska Law from the Michigan Innocence Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School, where she was the Clinical Teaching Fellow. She now heads the newly established Innocence Clinic at the College of Law.
Cole’s passion for innocence work comes from a drive to address big-picture injustices she’s witnessed in the criminal legal system. Although she initially worked in criminal defense as a public defender and private counsel, she continued to feel pulled to do work with wrongful convictions.
“This is exactly what I wanted to do, which is teach students how to right the wrongs and how to fight injustices that we see, but also the very practical aspects of being an attorney,” she said.
The Nebraska Innocence Clinic will center on post-conviction work, which Cole identifies as a combination of civil and criminal litigation. These cases can span decades and provide an opportunity to learn from the investigation process. Shifts in forensic science and advances in technology often open opportunities for further exploration in many instances.
“Our work will continue to evolve as science evolves, as the law evolves,” Cole said. “It tends to change with factors outside of the legal community that then we have to try to incorporate.”
Nebraska's combination of metropolitan pockets and rural areas creates the opportunity for a wide variety of wrongful conviction cases, Cole said. This makeup ensures that students continue to learn and gain experience in different areas of the law. For Cole, one of the most exciting prospects of clinical work is the opportunity to grow and adapt alongside her students.
“I think there's something really wonderful about learning with your students and learning from your students at the same time,” she said.
In Cole’s interaction with the community, the reaction to the clinic has been overwhelmingly positive. The support and kindness she’s seen gives her hope that people will be open to engaging in conversations with students and sharing their stories.
“I will be able to reach out to people and talk to them, and it is such a good experience for students to be able to work in a state like that,” she said.
The Innocence Clinic is the first of its kind that will focus on wrongful convictions in Nebraska specifically. The Midwest Innocence Project, a partner of the clinic, currently covers cases across five states. The Project will assist in screening and identifying potential cases for students to review.