The Truth Shall Set Them Free
Good morning, Netizens...
Noted Spokane lawyer and playwright Bryan Harnetiaux is directing The Exonerated, a dramatic reading that tells the stories of five men and one woman who were freed from death row. Performances are at Spokane Civic Theatre this coming Friday and Saturday at 7:30 both evenings. Tickets are $30 and can be ordered at TicketsWest. The performance is co-produced by the Center for Justice and Civic Theatre and proceeds benefit the Center for Justice.
First, a bit about Spokane lawyer and playwright Bryan Harnetiaux
Written by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, The Exonerated is a powerful portrayal of vindicated innocence and the human cost of time lost to wrongful prosecution. The stories are of innocent people who served between 2 and 22 years on death row, before being released after exculpatory evidence was brought forward. This weekend’s production coincides with the launching of the Center’s new Integrity of Justice project which is a partnership with the Innocence Project Northwest Clinic at the University of Washington School of law.
The Spokane performances feature actors David Casteal, Denise Utter, Winto Everette, Thomas Heppler, George Green, Bryan Jackson, Brooke Kiener, Andrew Biviano, and Rusty Nelson.
Director Bryan Harnetiaux is a luminary both in Spokane theatre and law. He is a 1973 graduate of Gonzaga Law School and has been an adjunct professor at the Law School for many years. In his writing he has tackled many important issues including death, racism, environmental degradation, and old age. He’s argued at the Washington State Supreme Court on several occasions and, as an athlete, is known both for his long range jump shot and his continued prowess on the softball diamond.
The Integrity of Justice Project is a public policy research and community education effort to foster a partnership among prosecutors, law enforcement, defense lawyers, judges, and others in the justice community. The purpose of the partnership is to identify best practices and procedures for determining guilt or innocence and thereby promote the integrity of the criminal justice system. The Integrity of Justice Project is funded by tax-deductible contributions. It is the centerpiece of the Center’s Liberty & Justice program that also includes our ongoing Law Enforcement Oversight project and Prison project.
Four your reference you can reach Center for Justice at:
Community Building
35 West Main, Suite 300
Spokane, Washington 99201
(509) 835-5211
Center for Justice is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except during the noon hour and on court holidays.
Information used in this message is from the CFJ web site Center for Justice and used without permission.
Dave