Imran J. Syed

Litigated and won the case of an innocent man who spent nearly 38 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of murder, November 2020.

Argued and won People v. Swilley—a pro bono case involving a child who was wrongfully convicted of murder—in the Michigan Supreme Court

Argued and won People v. Johnson/Scott—the joint case of two innocent men wrongfully convicted of murder—in the Michigan Supreme Court, July 2018.

Conducted a training on Rules and Procedures for Litigating New Evidence Claims, as Part of the Michigan Appellate Defender Fall Training Series.

Presented, “Forensic Science- The Revolution Continues,” Plenary speech at Conference of the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan.

Presented, “Forensic Science and Wrongful Convictions,” Conference of the Criminal Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan.

 

Presented, “Procedures and Processes of the Michigan Innocence Clinic,” Annual Conference of the NALS Association of Legal Professionals.

Spoke in favor of Proposed Amendments to Michigan Court Rules Concerning Post-Conviction Motions at Michigan Supreme Court Public Hearing.

Presented, “Recognizing and Litigating Shifts in Forensic Science,” Criminal Law Section of the Washtenaw County Bar Association.

Keynote address on “Progress and Exonerations in Ten Years of the Michigan Innocence Clinic,” Lenawee County Bar Association Annual Gala.

Panelist, Symposium Commemorating the Michigan Innocence Clinic’s Tenth Anniversary.

Awarded Department of Justice grant to support Michigan Innocence Clinic’s litigation of wrongful conviction cases involving forensic science.

Presented "Litigating Successive Federal Habeas Corpus Petitions," Innocence Network Annual Conference, Atlanta.

Presented "Advanced Forensic Science Post-Conviction Litigation," Innocence Network Annual Conference, Atlanta.

Presented "Forensic Science Errors and Reforms," Conference of Criminal Law Section of State Bar of Michigan.

Presented "Innocence and Science," Conference on Forensic Science Reform, Georgia State University Law School, Atlanta.

Presented "Primer on Federal Habeas Corpus," Innocence Network Annual Conference, Memphis, Tennessee.

Presented "Litigating Arson Cases, Old and New," Innocence Network Annual Conference, Memphis, Tennessee.

Presented "Building Pro Bono Partnerships with Law Firms," Innocence Network Annual Conference, Memphis, Tennessee.

Named among national list of Top 40 Young Lawyers by the American Bar Association.

Presented "Major Updates in Forensic Science: Strategies and Case Law," Conference of Criminal Law Section of State Bar of Michigan.

Presented "Litigating Complex Cases Involving Scientific Shifts," Innocence Network Annual Conference, San Diego, California.

Presented "Scientific Evidence at Trial and on Appeal," Conference of Criminal Law and Prisons and Corrections Sections of State Bar of Michigan.

Led training on "Closing Arguments After Post-Conviction Evidentiary Hearings," State Appellate Defender Office, Detroit.