Glynn Simmons, a 71-year-old man who was wrongfully imprisoned for nearly five decades, is set to receive a $7.15 million settlement from the city of Edmond, Oklahoma, which convicted him. This settlement is one of the largest in U.S. history for a wrongful conviction, highlighting a grave miscarriage of justice.
Background of the Case
Simmons, who is Black, holds the record for the longest time served by an exonerated inmate in U.S. history, according to The National Registry of Exonerations. He was released last year after spending 48 years, one month, and 18 days in prison for a murder he did not commit.
In 1975, Simmons and another man, Don Roberts, were sentenced to death for the murder of a liquor store clerk during a robbery in Edmond. Their sentences were later reduced to life imprisonment. The conviction was based solely on the testimony of a teenage customer who survived being shot in the head during the robbery and identified them in a police lineup. However, later investigations revealed significant doubts about the reliability of her identification.
Legal Developments and Settlement
On Monday, Edmond city councillors voted to approve the settlement for Simmons to resolve claims against the city and one of the detectives involved in his wrongful conviction. Lawyers for Simmons stated that the payment is a “partial settlement” of his lawsuit against the cities and police officers who allegedly falsified evidence to frame him for murder.
Lead attorney Elizabeth Wang commented, “Mr. Simmons spent a tragic amount of time incarcerated for a crime he did not commit. Although he will never get that time back, this settlement with Edmond will allow him to move forward while also continuing to press his claims against Oklahoma City and a leading detective.”
Simmons was released after U.S. District Court Judge Amy Palumbo vacated his conviction in July last year, and he was officially declared innocent in December. His co-defendant, Don Roberts, was released from prison in 2008.
Continuing Legal Actions
The settlement with Edmond marks a significant step in acknowledging the injustice Simmons suffered. However, Simmons’ legal team plans to continue pursuing claims against Oklahoma City and others involved in his wrongful conviction. The case underscores ongoing issues within the criminal justice system, including the reliability of eyewitness testimony and the potential for systemic biases.
