Dorsey Partner Steve Wells is featured in the October 5 issue of Minnesota Lawyer for his pro bono work involving a death row inmate. Wells and Dorsey Partner Patrick McLaughlin worked on behalf of Joe Lee Guys who was to be executed in Texas following his conviction for capital murder.

After a lengthy series of appeals, the Dorsey lawyers convinced the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that their client had not received effective counsel at the penalty phase of his trial when they found Guy’s trial attorney had been previously suspended from practice several times due to alcohol and drug abuse and lying and stealing from clients. In 2004, Guy’s sentence was commuted from death to life in prison.

“It is immensely satisfying,” said Wells. “You feel like you really made a contribution to the justice system and to somebody’s life. I love what I do [in my everyday practice], but I don’t save people’s live very often.”

To view the full article, click on the PDF above.

Reprinted with Permission