Entries by Carla Crowder

We’re Hiring a Legal Fellow to Join Our Team Fighting for a Better Alabama

About Alabama Appleseed: Alabama Appleseed is a non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1999 whose mission is to achieve justice and equity for all Alabamians. Alabama Appleseed conducts integrated culture and policy change campaigns to confront laws and policies that harm the poor and to remedy the root causes of poverty and injustice. Its campaigns […]

, , , ,

Celebrating the freedom and birthday of another Appleseed client

We are thrilled to announce the release of another client, Joe Bennett, today – his first free world birthday in 24 years. Once sentenced to die in prison, Mr. Bennett walked out of Donaldson Correctional Facility on September 21, 2021, after a Jefferson County judge granted Appleseed’s motion for post-conviction relief and resentencing.  Staff attorney […]

, , ,

Once condemned to die in prison, Motis Wright is finally free – and enrolled in robotics class.

By Carla Crowder, Appleseed Executive Director Motis Wright, who was originally sentenced to die in prison under Alabama’s Habitual Felony Offender Act for a 1994 robbery conviction, was released on time served after being represented by Alabama Appleseed. Mr. Wright walked free in May, greeted by his son, Chris Burton, whom he had not seen […]

, , ,

“I’m experiencing a rebirth, a second chance at life, and every day has been a blessing.”

By Ronald McKeithen, Appleseed guest blogger Birmingham, AL — Doubts of ever leaving prison had been embedded deep within me. I couldn’t shake them. At least not completely. Even after everything that I’d prayed for and dreamed of for decades had finally been granted: a dedicated legal team and a mountain of supporters that had […]