Texas CAA Free Representation Contest

The contest terms are described below. Please note that as of June 1, 2025, the firm has stopped accepting applications.  CAA only accepts paying clients at this time.

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Original contest terms as of April 1, 2025:

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Are You Innocent?

 

Criminal Appeals Advocates (CAA) will be selecting one innocent Texas inmate to represent for free in an attempt to overturn his or her conviction. 

 

 

Services to be Included:

 

The inmate selected will become a non-paying client of CAA law firm and receive:

• Representation from CAA’s lead Texas attorney Matt Daher in any and all post-conviction relief that is appropriate. (Possible relief includes a direct appeal, a Texas Article 11.07 application, or a federal § 2255 motion)

• A publicity campaign run by CAA attorney Aaron Spolin, including an attempt to secure media coverage, a signature-gathering petition, and—potentially—a private citizen letter campaign to the judge or other decider.

• The hiring of a private investigator and/or expert witnesses, without cost to the client, to support the post-conviction relief sought.

 

If CAA is successful in overturning the conviction, the firm asks that the client share his or her experience with others.

 

 

How to Apply:

 

To apply for consideration:

1. Submit a one-page letter that (A) briefly explains your case and (B) lists what evidence shows your innocence and which items of evidence were discovered after your trial, if any.

2. Have support letters sent into the CAA office where other inmates or family vouch for your innocence, stating “I know   (your name)   and I genuinely believe he/she is innocent. I ask that attorney Matt Daher take on his case as the 2025 CAA Free Innocence Case,” or something to that effect.

 

Applications and support letters can be sent to the Austin, TX, office or the firm’s mail processing center at 11500 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90064.  Material sent to the 11500 W. Olympic address will be processed faster.

 

The deadline is May 30th, 2025, for all applications and support letters.

The individual selected will be listed by June 16th, 2025, at: www.TexasCAA.com/2025Innocence

 

 

 

 

Selection Criteria:

 

Criminal Appeals Advocates (CAA) will select one (1) Texas inmate to represent and provide with the services listed above free of charge (See Services to be Included section, above).

 

The selection committee will be composed of attorney Matt Daher, attorney Aaron Spolin, and the law firm manager.  The inmate will be selected based on the following criteria:

1. Innocence: The individual must be innocent.

2. Evidence: An individual with stronger evidence of innocence will be favored over an individual with weak evidence of innocence.

3. Support: In the event of multiple individuals with strong evidence of innocence, the firm will select the inmate with the most support letters from other inmates.

 

Please note that CAA handles other cases that do not involve innocence, including improper sentences, rights violations in trial, invalid plea deals, etc. for paying clients, but this Free Case project is only for innocent individuals.

 

 

FAQ:

 

How will I know if I am selected?

 

            If you are selected then we will notify you via mail and set up a confidential attorney call through the prison.  We will not be directly notifying those who are not selected, although anyone will be able to view the selection results by June 16, 2025, at www.TexasCAA.com/2025Innocence, which will list the person selected. 

 

Can I call or write a letter to find out more information?

 

No, unfortunately CAA does not have the staffing capacity to respond to the anticipated large volume of calls and letters related to the 2025 CAA Free Innocence Case selection.  The firm’s staff and attorneys are reserved for attending to the firm’s paying clients (with the one exception being the client selected as part of this project).  Information about the 2025 CAA Free Innocence Case can be found in this document or at www.TexasCAA.com/2025Innocence.

 

I hired the firm already (or plan on hiring the firm), so am I still eligible to apply?

 

            Yes. The selection committee will select a free client based on the Selection Criteria section listed above, which means that a current client could potentially be selected.  Current clients will not be advantaged or disadvantaged.  If a current client is selected then their services will be upgraded to the services listed in the Services to be Included section, above, and all fees paid will be refunded, rendering their service free.

 

Can I find out who wrote letters of support for me?

 

            The inmate who is selected for the free legal work will be notified of who wrote support letters, but we will not have staffing capacity to notify everyone else.