The Audio Long Read ‘We thought we could change the world’: how an idealistic fight against miscarriages of justice turned sour
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May 26, 2025 A radical initiative to overturn wrongful convictions in the UK faces harsh realities. The Bristol University Innocence Project, led by a determined lecturer, dives into the complexities of cases like Simon Hall’s, revealing systemic failures. Despite the students’ dedication, they encounter significant obstacles from the legal system. Personal narratives underscore the emotional toll and idealism driving their fight against miscarriages of justice, showcasing both hope and disillusionment in their quest for truth.
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Miscarriages Reveal System Flaws
- Michael Norton saw miscarriages of justice not as rare errors but as signs of a dysfunctional system.
- He criticized the Criminal Cases Review Commission for failing wrongfully convicted people and hiding the problem from public view.
Norton's Radical Style Causes Rift
- Norton prioritized casework over close ties with establishment bodies like the CCRC.
- His uncompromising approach caused internal conflicts and made collaboration difficult within the innocence network.
Student Idealism Energizes Efforts
- Skeptics doubted innocence projects could succeed against a restrictive appellate system.
- Yet student idealism brought energy that overburdened defense lawyers often lacked.