Jessica Gabel: Wrongful Convictions Project

Combining her legal education at UM Law with her undergraduate background in forensic science, Miami Scholar, Jessica Gabel (3L), started laying the groundwork for the Wrongful Convictions Project during her first year of law school. By February 2003, with the help of some of her professors and other students the project had taken off. The Wrongful Convictions Project is currently involved in 130 cases and has over 100 student members.

There are two main components to the Wrongful Convictions Project. The public relations dimension seeks to educate lawmakers, public defenders, and the general public about the effects and reality of wrongful convictions. The Project also stresses the proper use of forensic evidence in the criminal justice system. Through outreach efforts, the Project seeks to persuade state politicians to draft regulations to safeguard prisoners in cases of wrongfully conviction.

The second function of the Wrongful Convictions Project is case investigation. While the Project does not solicit cases, when contacted, a preliminary questionnaire is sent to establish a case record and once the questionnaire is returned, it is reviewed to determine if there may be compelling evidence to overturn a wrongful conviction. The Wrongful Convictions Project only accepts cases where actual innocence is at issue. When the decision is made to move forward, law students assist inmates by reexamining the case in its entirety. Once the Project has prepared the case, it then seeks legal representation for the inmate.

Jessica is originally from Hays, Kansas. She initially started college as an acting major at the University of Southern California, but after her first semester decided to transfer to the University of Central Florida to specialize in forensic science. She graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. degree in 2001. During her senior year, she worked as a legal assistant. Jessica was very close to going to medical school when she became fascinated with the emerging role of DNA evidence in the legal system and opted for law school instead. "Law school turned out to be the best decision of my life. It's the most challenging, most rewarding experience I've ever had. I've loved it."

During law school, Jessica interned with the Public Defender's Office, clerked at two Miami law firms, was a summer associate with Baker & McKenzie in DC, and was a research assistant for Professors Graham and Simon.

Jessica participated in the summer abroad program at University College London in 2002 where she gave several lectures on forensic science and the death penalty, including one, Wrongful Convictions and American Jurisprudence, before Parliament. While in London, Jessica also managed to fit in an internship with a law firm.

This past summer, Jessica was back in Europe, this time in Germany with seven other UM law students and Professors Williamson and Abraham for a collaborative seminar between UM and the University of Leipzig. The seminar brings together law students from the two universities to discuss current international legal issues. Students are given controversial topics to debate, with the UM students presenting the U.S. policy and the German students representing the position of the European Union. Jessica was assigned the United States' detainment of terrorist suspects at Guantanamo Bay.

After graduation, Jessica has accepted a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Judge Peter T. Fay of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Miami. She will also be an instructor in UM Law's Legal Research and Writing program in the fall.