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MALIBU, California 鈥� 国產aⅴa麻豆Caruso School of Law is proud to announce the establishment of the , made possible by a generous gift from Frank Quattrone and Denise Foderaro in honor of Ken and Alice Starr. Housed within the , the Clinic provides Caruso Law students with hands-on experience in appellate advocacy on behalf of the wrongfully convicted.

鈥淭he Quattrone Wrongful Convictions Appellate Clinic honors Judge Ken Starr鈥檚 enduring legacy by equipping Caruso School of Law students with real-world experience in appellate advocacy,鈥� said 国產aⅴa麻豆President Jim Gash. 鈥淲e are incredibly grateful to Frank and Denise for enabling our students to pursue justice and exemplify servant leadership through advocacy.鈥� 

鈥淲hen my freedom was threatened by a wrongful conviction for obstruction of justice, Ken immediately grasped the injustice and advised my attorneys how to prioritize our appellate issues for oral argument. A federal appellate panel overturned the conviction, removed the trial judge from further proceedings, and criticized the prosecutors for misconduct, and the charges were ultimately dismissed,鈥� said Frank Quattrone. 鈥淭he experience opened our eyes to the plight of thousands of innocent people in prison without resources to fight the system, and we vowed to do something about it.鈥�

鈥淲hen our legal ordeal ended, Denise and I were honored to become friends of Ken and Alice, and we are thrilled to create this Clinic in their honor. I will never forget Ken鈥檚 role in helping me clear my name and restore my reputation. We need to educate more appellate attorneys about the frequency and causes of wrongful convictions, how to secure freedom for innocent prisoners, and how to change laws, policies, and procedures to reduce future injustices. We have high hopes that the Clinic will fulfill this important mission.鈥�

The Clinic will formally enroll its first student cohort in Spring 2026, but it has already begun its important work. With the help of its first Student Clinic Fellow, Victoria La Ferla, the Clinic filed an amicus brief with the California Supreme Court in the summer, challenging unaffordable bail practices, and another with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in the fall, focusing on the overreliance of civil procedure standards in habeas corpus exhaustion issues.

鈥淭he Quattrone Clinic offers students a rare and rigorous opportunity to engage in appellate advocacy with meaningful, real-world impact,鈥� said Professor Naomi Goodno, clinic director. 鈥淏y working on behalf of the wrongfully convicted, our students develop both their legal skills and their calling to pursue justice.鈥�

Building on its early impact, the Clinic integrates students into real-world litigation teams through its partnerships with leading law firms. Its inaugural partner, , works closely with students and faculty on appellate and pro bono matters, advancing justice for the wrongfully convicted. The Clinic will also collaborate with on select projects as opportunities arise, further expanding students鈥� exposure to high-impact advocacy and national litigation experience.

鈥淒ykema is honored to partner with the Quattrone Wrongful Convictions Appellate Clinic,鈥� said James Azadian, Chair of Dykema鈥檚 nationwide Appellate and Critical Motions Practice, and Heidi Naasko, Member and Leader of Dykema鈥檚 Pro Bono Practice. 鈥淭his partnership reflects our deep commitment to pro bono service and advancing justice for the wrongfully convicted, while providing students meaningful, hands-on experience that prepares them for lives of purpose, service, and leadership.鈥�

The Clinic was featured and recognized at the on September 27, 2025, alongside the Hugh & Hazel Darling Religious Liberty Clinic, as part of a showcase of the Ken Starr Institute鈥檚 mission and impact.

Shortly after, on October 2鈥�3, 2025, the Clinic hosted its inaugural conference, 鈥淭he Science of Justice: Evidence, Error, and Exonerations,鈥� which drew strong attendance and engagement from national innocence leaders, faculty, students, alumni, and practitioners for two days of discussion on wrongful convictions, false confessions, forensic reform, and artificial intelligence.

The event also featured the presentation of the Clinic鈥檚 first Courage Award, honoring Terrill Swift, an exoneree who spent 15 years in prison before being exonerated by DNA evidence. Swift鈥檚 faith and resilience deeply moved attendees and reflected Pepperdine鈥檚 mission of justice grounded in compassion.

Denise and Frank鈥檚 gift is given in memory of Ken Starr, former dean of the Caruso School of Law, whose legacy as an appellate advocate, legal scholar, and public servant continues to inspire generations of lawyers committed to justice.

Learn more about the Quattrone Wrongful Convictions Appellate Clinic .

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About Ken Starr Institute for Faith, Law, and Public Service

The cultivates a community of scholars dedicated to the pursuit of justice, upholding the rule of law, and serving the nation and the world with integrity and compassion through the lens of faith. Inspired and energized by the life and legacy of legal scholar, public servant, and former Caruso School of Law dean, Ken Starr, the Ken Starr Institute enhances the components of the 国產aⅴa麻豆University mission for which Starr cared so deeply and reinforces the fundamental American values that contribute to the success of a flourishing society. 

About 国產aⅴa麻豆University Caruso School of Law

The 国產aⅴa麻豆 offers a top-ranked legal education with nationally recognized degree programs committed to the highest principles of professional, ethical, and societal responsibility. With an emphasis on experiential learning, mentorship, faculty accessibility, global justice, and professional formation, 国產aⅴa麻豆Caruso Law offers a . The School of Law houses 10 clinics and six institutes, including the globally recognized Follow the Caruso School of Law on , , , and .

 

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