Sidebar: Exonerated

Welcome to the second season of Sidebar.

A quick warning before we jump in: this episode contains adult language and descriptions of violence. 

We speak to Maurice Caldwell and Zachary Vanderhorst – two men recently exonerated after spending decades in prison. These men now must grapple with their unjust incarcerations and the toll taken on their lives.

Caldwell recently reached an $8 million settlement in a lawsuit against San Francisco after being wrongfully convicted of murder and spending 20 years in prison. We also hear from Kitt Crenshaw, a now-retired police commander who denies claims that he framed Caldwell and says he acted lawfully.

Vanderhorst spent over 45 years in prison after California laws allowed charges against him at 19 years old for a murder he didn't commit. Failures of the justice system and his court-appointed legal counsel led to his wrongful conviction.

Special guests:

• Terry Gross, attorney at Gross & Belsky
• Paige Kaneb, supervising attorney at the Northern California Innocence Project
• Rebecca Young, attorney at the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office
• Patrick Murray, attorney at Keker, Van Nest & Peters

Sidebar tackles the top stories you need to know from the legal world. Join reporters Bianca Bruno, Nicholas Iovino, Amanda Pampuro and Nina Pullano as they take you in and out of courtrooms in the U.S. and beyond and break down developments to help you understand how they affect your day-to-day life.

This episode was produced by Kirk McDaniel. Music by The Dead Pens, KV, Sappheiros, Scott Buckley, Lakey Inspired, Kevin MacLeod and Prod. Riddaman. A transcript of this episode is available.

Editorial staff is Bill Dotinga, Sean Duffy and Jamie Ross.

For more on Maurice Caldwell's fight to freedom:

-- San Francisco approves $8 million settlement for man wrongly imprisoned for 20 years

-- Wrongly convicted man fights to put SF on trial

-- Ninth Circuit OKs wrongly convicted man’s bid to sue officer

Follow Sidebar and Courthouse News on Twitter.

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