In this Op-Ed published on AL.com, an Alabama news site, Jodi Lopez recounts her unique relationship with Matthew Reeves. Matthew, an intellectually disabled man with an IQ of 68, was executed by the state of Alabama in January 2022. Jodi served as Matthew’s pro bono legal counsel for nearly 17 years and led a Sidley team that won federal habeas relief for Matthew at the 11th Circuit, which was overturned summarily by the Supreme Court. Over the years, Jodi grew to know Matthew as a human and “much more than the worst choice he made as a teenager.” Jodi recalls their discussions about family, football, his interests in art and scripture, and the special bond he shared with her, her children, and his entire legal team.
AL.com
Lawyer For Executed Matthew Reeves: ‘He was my responsibility and I loved him’
April 11, 2022
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Pro Bono and Diversity
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