Supreme Court of Georgia – Stinchcomb v. Georgia

We are very proud of the firm and our law partner Leigh Schrope as she put all the pieces together to file a request to overturn the conviction of our client Mr. Stinchcombe through the newly structured Conviction Integrity Unit in Fulton County. The result of hard work and investigation is our firms’ purpose, and it matters.

Mr. Stinchcomb was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison but maintained that he was innocent and acting in self-defense. In August of 2018, our firm filed an extraordinary motion for new trial on Mr. Stinchcomb’s behalf in Fulton County Superior Court based on newly discovered evidence that was previously unavailable in the form of a critical eyewitness who was not located earlier because the State had indicated that it believed he was dead. While the Fulton County Superior Court denied this extraordinary motion for new trial in June of 2019 without an evidentiary hearing, our firm filed a discretionary appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court which was granted and the case was remanded for an evidentiary hearing. S20A0355. Our firm then approached the newly formed Fulton

County Conviction Integrity Unit with the newly discovered evidence, and, after discussions and investigation, the Fulton County Conviction Integrity Unit and our firm presented a Consent Order Granting the Extraordinary Motion for New Trial agreeing that the newly discovered evidence establishes that Mr. Stinchcomb was acting in self-defense and exonerates him. The Court signed the order on April 12, 2021, the original indictment was nolle prossed, and Mr. Stinchcomb was released that same day after serving over 18 years in prison.

This incredible victory was highlighted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution by Bill Rankin. Ms. Schrope was quoted: “This case is another example of an innocent person having to wait a long time for justice. We are so happy that Mr. Stinchcomb has been exonerated and that he has been reunited with his loving family.”