KPBS Midday Edition

San Diego Innocence Project Calls For Clemency For "California 12"

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, Patty Lane / Producer, Amita Sharma / Investigative Reporter

Published December 23, 2013 at 8:30 AM PST

This story was published more than 10 years ago.

San Diego Innocence Project Calls For Clemency For “California 12”

San Diego Innocence Project Calls For Clemency For "California 12"

GUEST:Justin Brooks, co-founder of the California Innocence Project at California Western School of Law

It's an old-fashioned tradition, one that dates back to the time of kings and royal commands. But it's a tradition that our legal system holds to, because it's often the last chance for justice. I'm talking about the clemency lists that presidents and governors release at this time of year. Lawyers with San Diego's Innocence Project have been petitioning to get 12 people on that list this year. The group is called the California 12 — all of whom, the Innocence Project claims, have been in prison for crimes they did not commit.

KPBS Midday Edition

Maureen Cavanaugh

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

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Amita Sharma

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As an investigative reporter for KPBS, I've helped expose political scandals and dug into intractable issues like sex trafficking. I've raised tough questions about how government treats foster kids. I've spotlighted the problem of pollution in poor neighborhoods. And I've chronicled corporate mistakes and how the public sometimes ends up paying for them.

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