June 15, 2007
The front page of the June 15 edition of The Wall Street Journal features an in-depth article on the case of Garcia v. Portuondo, a high-profile habeas corpus matter handled by the firm on a pro bono basis.
The front page of the June 15 edition of The Wall Street Journal features an in-depth article on the case of Garcia v. Portuondo, a high-profile habeas corpus matter handled by the firm on a pro bono basis. In December 2006, Judge Lewis Kaplan of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted Willkie’s request for a writ of habeas corpus. And in February 2007, after serving 15 years for murder despite having a credible alibi, Willkie client Jose Garcia was ordered released from prison.
The WSJ article discusses the exceptional work tactics and dedication partner Martin Klotz and associates Matthew Bosher and Stephen Vogel put forth to get this matter resolved. The article highlights that the firm devoted over 2,000 hours over three years on the case without charge. The article also details the extensive efforts the Willkie lawyers exerted on behalf of their client, including visits to the Dominican Republic in search of original documentation, as well as locating and conducting comprehensive interviews with witnesses who could help prove the client’s innocence.
Upon granting the writ of habeas corpus, Judge Kaplan said that Willkie’s pro bono effort “was in the highest tradition of the Bar.”