The Center for American and International Law (CAIL), in partnership with Texas A&M University School of Law and the Innocence Project of Texas, convened the 20th Annual Actual Innocence conference on May 14–15, 2026, at Texas A&M University School of Law in Fort Worth, Texas. Under the theme Lessons, Legacies, and the Path Forward, this landmark two-day event brought together judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement professionals, forensic scientists, exonerees, and scholars to examine the persistent challenges of wrongful convictions and chart an ambitious course for the next generation of criminal justice.
Supported by a grant from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the conference marks the 20th convening of this flagship event — part of CAIL's broader Criminal Justice and Actual Innocence (CJAI) programming, which has been providing specialized training for defense attorneys, prosecutors, and justice system stakeholders since 2003.
"Twenty years of bringing together judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, police, exonerees, and advocates in the same room — all with the shared goal of getting justice right — is something worth celebrating," said Mark Smith, program chair and former CAIL president. "This program has made a real difference, but there is still much more to do."
Welcome and Opening Remarks
The conference opened with remarks from Thomas (T.L.) Cubbage, President of The Center for American and International Law; Robert Ahdieh, Dean of Texas A&M University School of Law; Leslie MacClean, Immediate Past President of the Innocence Project of Texas; and Mark Smith, Program Chair.
Photo: Attendees during 20th Annual Actual Innocence conference at Texas A&M University School of Law, Fort Worth, Texas, May 14-15, 2026.
Day One Highlights
The program opened with a vivid reminder of what is at stake: an in-depth examination of recent developments in the Austin Yogurt Shop Case, led by Mike Ware, Executive Director of the Innocence Project of Texas and Director of the Texas A&M Innocence Project, and featuring Dan Jackson, Detective with the Austin Police Department. Trudy Strassburger, First Assistant District Attorney for Travis County, played a key role in the case and also participated in the discussion.
This segment of the conference focused on early mistakes in the investigation of high profile 1991 murders, the prosecutions of innocent teenagers who were led to make false incriminating statements to police, and the later forensic discoveries that cleared those persons and identified the actual killer.
Photo: Mark Smith introduced the opening session on the Austin Yogurt Shop Murders case. He is joined by participants Mike Ware, Dan Jackson, and Trudy Strassburger, May 14, 2026.
Attendees then heard from Professor Kyle Scherr of Central Michigan University on the psychology behind false confessions, followed by Detective Shaun Sylvester of the Houston Police Department, who presented evidence-based interviewing as a superior alternative to accusatorial methods of interrogation. Over a working lunch, Hon. Bert Richardson and Hon. David Newell, both judges of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, shared candid perspectives from the bench in a conversation moderated by Gary Udashen of Udashen and Anton in Dallas.
Photo: Hon. David Newell (center) and Hon. Bert Richardson (right) of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals share perspectives from the bench in a conversation moderated by Gary Udashen, May 14, 2026.
One of the day's most forward-looking sessions featured Barry Scheck, Co-Founder of the Innocence Project, exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping actual innocence cases — reflecting CJAI's ongoing commitment to equipping legal professionals with the latest tools and knowledge. The afternoon also included a powerful firsthand account from the San Antonio Four — Anna Vazquez, Kristie Mayhugh, Cassie Rivera Hurtado, and Liz Ramirez — whose story of wrongful conviction and hard-won exoneration is the kind of human testimony that makes the CJAI program important.
Day one closed with a session on eyewitness mis-identification and best practices, featuring Professor Laura Smalarz of Arizona State University. She was joined by Mike Corley, former Chief of Police in Brownwood, Texas.
Day Two Highlights
The second day opened with Gary Udashen reviewing recent legislative and judicial developments, followed by a journalism panel moderated by Mike Ware featuring Mike Hall of Texas Monthly and Rick Tulsky, Pulitzer Prize winner and co-founder of Injustice Watch, who shared what it looks like to cover wrongful conviction cases from the outside.
Photo: Gary Udashen presented recent legislative and judicial developments at the 20th Annual Actual Innocence conference, May 15, 2026.
A two-hour session on Conviction Integrity Units brought together some of the most experienced practitioners in the field — Patricia Cummings, former CIU Director for Dallas and Philadelphia; Cynthia Garza, former CIU Director for Dallas; Cheryl Wattley, Professor at the University of North Texas; Valerie Newman, CIU Director for Wayne County, Michigan; Tracey Brame of the Cooley Innocence Project; and Russell Gold, Professor at the University of Alabama School of Law — for a candid conversation about the ethics and strategy of collaboration between defense and prosecution.
Keynote Address
The conference keynote was delivered by Jim McCloskey, Founder of Centurion Ministries and a seminal figure in the wrongful conviction movement. He was introduced by Gary Udashen and exonerees Ben Spencer and Richard Miles and the program included a video tribute from John Grisham, Mr. McCloskey’s co-author. This session captured the enduring human spirit at the heart of twenty years of this work and concluded with the presentation of an award to Mr. McCloskey from the three sponsoring organizations.
Photo: Attendees gather for the keynote address delivered by Jim McCloskey, Founder of Centurion Ministries, at the 20th Annual Actual Innocence conference, May 15, 2026.
The afternoon continued with Professor Kim Rossmo of Texas State University on cognitive biases and investigative failures, followed by a session on transparency in forensic science featuring Lynn Garcia, General Counsel of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, and Peter Stout, CEO and President of the Houston Forensic Science Center. Hon. David Newell then closed the program with parting comments.
Looking Ahead
CAIL extends its sincere appreciation to Texas A&M University School of Law, the Innocence Project of Texas, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the distinguished faculty, and all participants whose support and engagement made this 20th anniversary conference such a meaningful occasion.
CAIL's CJAI programs are always looking for important new topics, experienced faculty, and individuals who have been exonerated and want to make an impact by sharing their stories. For information on upcoming programs or to get involved, visit www.cailaw.org/Criminal-Justice or contact the CJAI team at cjai@cailaw.org or 972-244-3415.
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About the Criminal Justice and Actual Innocence Programs at The Center for American and International Law – Established in 2003 and supported by grants from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, The Center for American and International Law's (CAIL) Criminal Justice and Actual Innocence (CJAI) programs are focused on advancing justice and reducing wrongful convictions through specialized training for defense attorneys, prosecutors, and other justice system stakeholders. Through seminars, workshops, and expert-led sessions, CAIL's CJAI programs address critical issues in criminal justice, fostering a deeper understanding and promoting the highest standards of practice. For more information, visit www.cailaw.org/Criminal-Justice.
CAIL Media Contact
Karla Lárraga, Communications Officer
(972) 244-3436 | klarraga@cailaw.org