Scott Abeles Quoted in the Washington Post: “Justin Wolfe, Who Confessed to 2001 Murder for Hire, Could Get New Trial”

Scott Abeles was quoted in a Washington Post article titled “Justin Wolfe, Who Confessed to 2001 Murder for Hire, Could Get New Trial.” The article covers the case of a man accused of murder-for-hire who, after years of failed attempts, may now have the chance to withdraw his guilty plea and have his case heard by a jury, following a recent decision by a federal appeals court.

Based on the strength of the exculpatory evidence presented with Wolfe’s habeas petition, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit reversed the district court’s dismissal of his petition and found he satisfied the strict standard of “actual innocence.” Wolfe earned this result notwithstanding pleading guilty in 2016, becoming one of the few petitioners to ever satisfy the actual innocence standard despite a guilty plea. This is the second time in 24 years Wolfe has satisfied the innocence standard, one of the highest in habeas jurisprudence.

Abeles is representing Wolfe pro bono.

“The courts keep saying he doesn’t belong in prison,” Abeles said. “It’s 24 years, and it’s time, I hope, for a new approach from the state towards this man.”

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News of this decision was also covered by Bloomberg Law and Courthouse News Service.