On the evening of January 17, The Catholic University of America's Campus Ministry continued their 2023 MLK Teach-In events with an extraordinary story of justice and redemption, "The Exoneration of Alfred Dewayne Brown – Pro Bono and Ethics in Action." The evening was opened with a welcome from Harrison Hanve and Caitlin Wilson, who thanked those involved with helping to put together the 2023 MLK Teach-In events and then introduced Professor Veryl Miles. Professor Miles thanked those in attendance for coming and introduced Brian Stolarz '98.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s quote, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'", speaks to the effort of Brian Stolarz in securing the freedom of Alfred Dewayne Brown, the 13th exoneree from Texas Death Row.

Brown was arrested in April 2003 and was convicted and sentenced to death in October 2005 for a crime that he did not commit. Stolarz’s presentation detailed his representation of Brown, from being assigned the habeas corpus attorney for the case through to Brown’s release in 2015 and the subsequent declaration of innocence. Stolarz outlined key details of the original trial, noting that badgering of key witnesses and a tainted grand jury were both major contributing factors in Brown’s wrongful conviction.

Stolarz also highlighted the goodness, decency, and grace Brown has maintained from sentencing to the present. In closing, Stolarz focused on the importance of pro bono work and sharing your skills to help those in need, as well as how his faith helped him through the highs and lows during his work on Brown's case. Following his presentation Stolarz stayed to talk one on one with those in attendance.

Brown’s road to exoneration and Stolarz’s work were featured in episode eight of the Netflix docuseries, The Innocence Files, as well as in Stolarz’s book, Grace and Justice on Death Row: A Race Against Time to Free an Innocent Man. Stolarz gave away signed copies of his book to the first 25 attendees.

The 2023 MLK Teach-In continues on Thursday, January 19, with Michael Lyles, "MLK and Economic Justice: Lunch & Discussion", at 12:30 p.m. Click here for details.