Three of the Norfork Four Pardoned

For those who attended the Idaho Federal Defender's annual conference and heard New York Times reporter Alan Berlow speak about his investigation into "What Happened in Norfork," here's an update.

According to the NYT, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, citing "grave doubts" about their guilt, ordered the release of three of the sailors who were convicted in that 1997 murder and rape case. "The three, who with another sailor were known as the Norfork Four, were charged in the rape and murder of the wife of a fellow sailor. But after someone else confessed to the crime and the men remained in prison, their plight attracted a long list of supporters, including former judges, agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and even some of the jurors in their cases." The pardon released the sailors from custody, but didn't expunge the convictions. The fourth sailor, who was not charged with murder, was not pardoned as he had already been released after serving eight and a half years.


Today's New York Times Article is at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/us/07norfolk.html?_r=1&ref=us

Alan Berlow's 2007 story is here: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/magazine/19Norfolk-t.html

Be sure to attend this year's "Western All Stars" Conference, August 28-29, 2009 at the Grove Hotel in Boise. It's always a great CLE and, if that's not enough for you, IACDL hosts a cocktail party after the Friday session. You can get a registration form here: http://www.fdsidaho.org/documents/brochure2.pdf