McGuireWoods Consulting’s Mark Bowles, Kassie Schroth and Mattingly Spence worked to help right a gross miscarriage of justice during the 2025 Virginia General Assembly.
The team provided pro bono representation to the Innocence Project at the University of Virginia School of Law in their representation of Mr. Gilbert Merritt III. Mr. Merritt was wrongfully incarcerated in 2000 after a detective obtained false testimony from a drug defendant stating Merritt had pulled the trigger in an unsolved murder case.
Years later, it was discovered the detective elicited several false confessions throughout his career. Mr. Merritt served 22 years for a murder he did not commit, despite having an alibi and no physical evidence against him. He was conditionally pardoned by Gov. Northam in 2022 and subsequently had his conviction vacated.
Through the leadership of Delegate Rip Sullivan and advocacy efforts in the General Assembly, House Bill 1780 passed out of the legislature and was signed by Gov. Youngkin on March 24, 2025, providing Mr. Merritt with over $2.6 million in compensation for his years of wrongful incarceration. Mr. Merritt will also receive additional funds from the City of Norfolk after the passage of House Bill 1914 this year, also patroned by Delegate Sullivan, which requires localities to match state compensation.
This opportunity to represent Mr. Merritt came through McGuireWoods partner, Jim Neal, who provided legal representation for Mr. Merritt throughout the court proceedings that led to the vacation of his guilty verdict.
“For years the firm shepherded Gilbert’s case through discovery, evidentiary hearings and on Appeal at the Virginia Supreme Court,” Jim said. “But Gilbert could not have won compensation for his wrongful conviction without Mark, Kassie and Mattingly. Their ability to navigate the General Assembly was invaluable and Gilbert is very grateful for their good work.”
