Erek Barron Wins New Trial for Pro Bono Client
On January 20, 2015, Erek Barron won reversal of the death sentence conviction of his pro bono client, Isaiah McCoy. Mr. McCoy was convicted and sentenced to death in Delaware for the May 2010 killing of James Munford. After his conviction, a pro bono team from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston led by former Project Steering Committee member Erek L. Barron, took over Mr. McCoy’s case on direct appeal. The team argued to the court that several errors had occurred at Mr. McCoy’s trial and called for reversal of his conviction and death sentence. The Delaware Supreme Court agreed, granting relief based on two separate issues. First, the court reversed based on the trial court’s error in denying Mr. McCoy the use of a peremptory challenge against a potentially biased juror. Second, the court reversed due to pervasive prosecutorial misconduct, including improper vouching and persistent mocking and inappropriate behavior toward Mr. McCoy throughout trial.
The story was covered by the American Bar Association (ABA), and the full article can be found here.