“The references to women, racilaised minority people and the working class as less capable of performing jury service are not prejudicial comments of the past – they are a relic in today’s jury system.” – Nisha Waller, on findings of the report Doubt Dismissed

Advisory Group

Abimbola Johnson (25 Bedford Row) – Abimbola is a leading junior barrister, legal commentator and writer. Abimbola also chairs an Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board which will play a crucial role in addressing historic disparities and a confidence gap between black people and the police.

Calvin Duncan – Calvin was wrongfully convicted of murder in New Orleans in 1985. Whilst in prison, Calvin was known for using his legal skills to help other prisoners. Calvin continued his fight for justice when he was released and helped propel the successful Ramos case to the Supreme Court.

David Cohen – David was wrongfully of murder in the UK in 2008 and is still serving time in custody. David is supported by APPEAL in challenging his wrongful conviction.

David Pinto – David was wrongfully convicted of murder in the UK in 2013 and is still serving time in custody. David is supported by APPEAL in challenging his wrongful conviction.

Dr Alpa Palmar (University of Cambridge) – Alpa is an academic lecturer specialising in criminological research. Alpa has researched and written on issues related criminal justice, with a particular focus on the the enmeshment of race, gender and criminalisation.

Dr Itiel Dror (University College London) – Itiel is an academic researcher with expertise on human performance and cognition. Itiel’s research examines human judgement and decision-making. Itiel has written on cognitive bias in the context of criminal justice outcomes, including on juror decision making.

Dr Rebecca Helm (University of Exeter) – Rebecca is an academic lecturer in Law. Rebecca led the analysis of over 250 miscarriages of justice that have occurred in England and Wales over the last 50 years and has researched jury decision making in the criminal trial.

Dr Shelley Budgeon (University of Birmingham) – Shelley writes and has lectured on gender, feminism and social change.

Dr Tunde Okewale MBE (Doughty Street Chambers) – Tunde is a leading junior barrister and Founder of Urban Lawyers – a charity which works to make the law more accessible to marginalised groups. Tunde is a well-known advocate for racial justice.

Michael Turner KC (Garden Court Chambers) – Michael is a senior barrister and hugely experienced trial and appellate advocate.

Professor Angela Allen-Bell (Southern University) – Angela is a legal scholar who has written on the interplay between law, race and justice. It is Angela’s research that gave way to the movement that successfully ended the use of non-unanimous jury verdicts in Louisiana.

Sophia Siddiqui (Institute of Race Relations) – Sophia writes and lectures on anti-racist feminism and has explored the historical continuities of the racialisation of crime in the media.

Winston Trew – Winston was wrongfully convicted of theft and assault in the UK in 1973 following a non-unanimous jury verdict. Following a decades long fight to clear his name, his conviction was overturned in 2019. Winston has written on the British Black Power movement, drawing on his own lived experience.

This initiative is generoursly supported by The Baring Foundation.