Diane Courselle Memorial Clinic Fund - Defender Aid Clinic

The College of Law Defender Aid Clinic is a statewide legal assistance program for individuals who have been accused or convicted of crimes and cannot afford counsel. Under the supervision of the faculty director, law students investigate, research, and litigate cases in a variety of stages of criminal defense practice. The scope of Defender Aid's work includes innocence claims made by Wyoming state prisoners in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center, direct appeals, and other post-conviction relief. 

Our mission is twofold: first and foremost, to zealously and creatively serve and defend individuals accused or convicted of crimes in the state of Wyoming who are unable to afford counsel and, second, to provide law students with a world-class legal education through practical application of their skills and knowledge in courts. We also strive to challenge the underlying causes of wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice through our research, writing, training, policy work, and litigation.

Historically, we have used donor support to travel to the annual Innocence Network Conference and, recently, to immerse ourselves in the area of civil rights and the study of systemic and institutionalized racism in our criminal legal system. Your support could be used for this and other vital experiences.

Thank you for your gifts that help further our research in and commitment to equality and justice for all persons!