Oklahoma Man Exonerated of Murder Conviction After Nearly 50 Years in Prison

An Oklahoma man who spent nearly 50 years in prison for a murder he did not commit was exonerated by a judge on Dec. 19. Former death row inmate Glynn Simmons, 70, was originally released from prison in July after prosecutors found that important evidence in his case was not turned over to his defense lawyers, resulting in a judge ordering a new trial. In an order on Tuesday, Oklahoma County District Judge Amy Palumbo updated the dismissal of his murder conviction and declared him innocent. “This Court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the offense for which Mr. Simmons was convicted, sentenced, and imprisoned in the case at hand, including any lesser included offenses, was not committed by Mr. Simmons,” Judge Palumbo said in a ruling....