I don't know how relevant it is to the Supreme Court when reviewing these convictions. I don't know how relevant it is to lawmakers who pass laws making it more difficult for defendants to raise claims after conviction. . . Innocence is not a high priority. If other claims have some merit, then innocence comes into the picture. But innocence by itself has very little priority in the system of justice, in terms of the kinds of claims that are made.
Innocence has very little relevance in post-conviction proceedings.
It's very rare that a claim of innocence by can win a release. . . It's so unusual to see courts granting these DNA claims. When they do, it's partly due to the work of the media, the aggressive work of defense lawyers, and, occasionally, concessions from prosecutors. Several cases have been overturned. But hundreds, maybe thousands of people are still languishing in jail who might well be innocent.