On March 4, 2024, Ronald Johnson was exonerated after 34 years behind bars. For over three decades, Mr. Johnson and three generations of his family have fought tirelessly to prove his innocence. When his attorneys at Phillips Black were finally allowed to review police and prosecution files, it confirmed what his supporters have always known: Mr. Johnson is innocent. At trial, police and prosecutors hid an abundance of evidence completely discrediting the only two witnesses in the case.

Mr. Johnson was convicted of the 1990 murder of Joseph Goldsby. There were no fingerprints, ballistics, DNA or any forensic evidence pointing to Mr. Johnson. He was convicted solely on the false testimony of two witnesses. During the investigation, the witnesses told police that Mr. Johnson was not present at the crime and identified a different perpetrator. At trial, however, police suppressed this critical evidence, and then lied about it on the stand.

In throwing out Mr. Johnson’s conviction, the Honorable Judge DiClaudio commended the Conviction Integrity Unit’s thorough investigation. “Watching Mr. Johnson and his family weep as the Judge banged his gavel and ordered his release, was a beautiful and profound moment,” said Stephen Lazar, a member of Mr. Johnson’s legal team. Moments later, the District Attorney’s Office moved to dismiss all charges against Mr. Johnson. His first plan as a free man is to visit his mother’s burial site, “she always believed in my innocence, I want to thank her.”