TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Barry Kolar on Nov 20, 2023

More than 450 guests came to support the work of the Tennessee Innocence Project (TIP) at its recent 5 Years of Fighting for Freedom event in Nashville. The event raised more than $300,000 and concluded with the Schooner Foundation renewing its commitment of $1 million over the next five years. TIP also honored their five exonerees — Wayne Burgess, Joyce Watkins, Charlie Dunn, Claude Garrett and Paul Shane Garrett — and presented it’s Rule of Law Award to Stephanie Ditenhafer, Julia Pettengill, Vin Ryan and the Schooner Foundation. The award recognizes those who courageously work to uphold the Rule of Law in its most fundamental sense, the organization said in a news release.

Tennessee Innocence Project Award

Rule of Law Award recipient Stephanie Ditenhafer (left) with TIP Executive Director Jessica Van Dyke

Tennessee Innocence Project Award

Joyce Watkins, TIP exoneree

Tennessee Innocence Project Award

Wayne Burgess, TIP exoneree

Left to right: Tereyo Cox; Jarvis Cox; Wayne Burgess, TIP exoneree; Jason Gichner, TIP deputy director and lead counsel; Joyce Watkins, TIP exoneree; Jessica Van Dyke, TIP executive director and lead counsel

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