A Soldier Both Acquitted and Convicted

The following is taken from an article on tlbtv.com where John Maher and Anna Lorance were interviewed about the case of Clint Lorance. You can read the full story by following this link.

Lorance was acquitted of changing the ROEs but convicted of murder and attempted murder of the “civilians.” He is now serving a 19-year sentence in the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He has exhausted his military appeals and now seeks relief with the civilian federal courts. In a 74-page petition for writ of habeas corpus filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, Lorance’s attorneys argue that the conviction and sentence should be thrown out.

Clint Lorance with his mother

Prosecutor Cited for Misconduct

The suit cites misconduct on the part of the prosecutors, missteps, lack of preparation on the part of Lorance’s trial attorneys, and an appeals process facilitated by military officials whose efforts to uphold the conviction at all costs resulted in Lorance’s appeal process being biased and unfair, to the point that it deprived him of his Constitutional Due Process Rights.

In the petition, Lorance’s attorneys explain that the prosecutors failed to turn over DNA and fingerprint evidence that identifies the motorcycle riders as enemy combatants, i.e., known bomb-makers, rather than “civilian casualties.”

The petition also details public comments made by the Chief Judge of the Army Court of Criminal Appeals, while Lorance’s case was still being reviewed, in which he accuses Lorance of giving his Solders false information about what the ROEs actually were, despite Lorance being acquitted of that offense.

The petition also describes similar comments made to a member of U.S. Congress by The Judge Advocate General, a three-star general who was the Army’s top lawyer. The petition describes an entire process geared toward creating the public impression of an Army that takes a hard line against Soldiers whose actions in combat result in civilian casualties, but meanwhile sacrifices principles of due process, fundamental fairness, and common sense, resulting in a Soldier convicted of murder for doing nothing more than protecting his troops in combat.

Anna Lorance, mother of Clint Lorance and Lt. Col. John Maher, Attorney

A copy of the petition is a matter of public record and is available at the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, Topeka Division. Lorance is represented by: John N. Maher, of Maher Legal Services PC, Chicago, Illinois; and by Christopher Joseph and Diane Bellquist, of Joseph, Hollander & Craft LLC, Topeka, Kansas. Questions regarding the filing may be directed to Lorance’s lead counsel, John N. Maher (phone: (708) 468-8155 / email: johnmaher@maherlegalservices.com).

United American Patriots

Clint Lorance has received overwhelming public support for this and other efforts to secure his release, led in large part by United American Patriots (UAP), a non-profit organization which generates public awareness, funds legal representation, and provides reintegration support for America’s Warriors. More information about UAP can be found at www.uap.org.

Watch the full interview here