Prof. Murray's Clemency Project Secures Release for Offender Supported by Detroit Lakes Community

Professor JaneAnne Murray's Clememcy Project at the Law School secured the release of three more clemency applicants on January 17, 2017: Kenneth Gragg, petition drafted by Cresston Gackle (’16); Calvin Biggs, petition drafted by Stacy Kalpathy (’17); and Andre Nelson, petition support from Stacy Kalpathy (’17). Mr. Gragg was profiled by the Star Tribune and MPR last week because he had garnered the support of a Detroit Lakes community. In fact, one member of that community brought his case to Prof. Murray's attention—Paul "Butch" White, who had connected with Mr. Gragg over their shared interest in stock car racing. In the Star Tribune, Rev. Brenda North, whose congregation at Detroit Lakes United Methodist Church rallied behind Gragg after White shared the story of a friendship he had struck up nearly a decade ago, summed up the happy event as follows: “Sometimes justice wins."