Unwavering Commitment: The Story of Edward Martinez
For Edward Martinez, May 24 has held a profound significance for the past 21 years, marking the birth of his daughter, Freedom. Now, over two decades later, this already meaningful date has taken on an even greater significance for Martinez and his family.
On May 24, 2024—Freedom’s birthday—Edward Martinez walked free from Northern Neck Regional Jail. Embraced by a large gathering of family, friends, and supporters who helped advocate for his freedom, Martinez could finally begin the difficult process of rebuilding his life after a wrongful conviction for first-degree murder.
Martinez agreed to be released on a time-served sentence in exchange for not pursuing the numerous Brady claims that resulted in his wrongful conviction. His case highlights a difficult choice many wrongfully convicted individuals face: accept a plea deal to gain immediate release, or continue the legal battle, risking many more years—or even a lifetime—in prison, separated from their families. This struggle occurs within a court system that often prioritizes finality over justice, leaving wrongfully convicted people to wait in hope of the rarity that is full exoneration.
Edward Martinez and Marc Howard, director of Georgetown Prisons and Justice Initiative, moments after Martinez walked free from Northern Neck Regional Jail.
Pursuing Justice
Martinez became a student in the first cohort of credit-bearing courses within the Georgetown Prison Scholars Program at the DC Jail in 2018, which was the beginning of his long-standing relationship with the university. During his time in the program, Martinez excelled as a student while taking courses that covered a myriad of engaging topics.
In 2020, Martinez was a program participant in the Making an Exoneree course. Throughout the semester, Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences students Johnsenia Brooks (C’20), Cecily Burge (C’21), and Austin Riddick (C’20) dedicated countless hours to reinvestigating Martinez’s case. “It was an honor to be able to work with Edward, alongside Austin and Cecily,” says Brooks. Their commitment to proving his innocence led to the creation of an award-winning short documentary that exposed the layers of injustice culminating in his wrongful conviction. The students’ support of Martinez arrived just when he was beginning to lose hope. “They came into my life at a time when I felt defeated by the legal process,” says Martinez. “They understood me and never made me feel like I wasn’t worth the time or effort.”
The students’ unwavering commitment to Martinez’s case did not end upon completion of the class and graduation from Georgetown. In fact, all students credit their work with Martinez as the motivation to pursue a career in law. “Edward changed my life forever,” says Burge. “Getting to know him and reinvestigating his wrongful conviction nearly five years ago as a student at Georgetown inspired me to work at the Innocence Project after college and to apply to law school.”
Johnsenia Brooks (C’20), Edward Martinez, and Cecily Burge (C’21) at Martinez’s welcome home celebration held at the Prisons and Justice Initiative building.
Fulfilling a Promise
Martinez recalls the promise that Riddick made to never give up on his case.
Several years after meeting Martinez and participating in the Making an Exoneree course, Riddick fulfilled his promise. Shortly after graduating from Harvard Law School, Riddick became a part of Martinez’s legal team—which also included longtime counsel Janai Reed and Making an Exoneree professors Marc Howard and Marty Tankleff—to continue the work he began as a Georgetown student.
“The person who is responsible for Edward being released is Edward himself. I want to commend him for leading his defense and being a brilliant self-advocate,” says Riddick. “I’m humbled that I was able to play a role in it.”
The week of May 24, Georgetown students joined Martinez’s friends and family as they welcomed Martinez home. His release—the Making an Exoneree Program’s eighth—sparked a long-anticipated celebration filled with tears of joy, laughter, and the overwhelming feeling of progress.
Edward Martinez and Austin Riddick (C’20) outside of Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
“I’m also so happy for, and proud of, my former Georgetown students Cecily Burge, Johnsenia Brooks, and Austin Riddick, who have already achieved something that most seasoned lawyers can only dream of,” says Howard. “They dedicated themselves for over four years to helping enable and support Edward’s freedom.”
Looking Ahead
Martinez is looking forward to finally having the opportunity to rebuild his life after having endured two decades of imprisonment.
“Hate put me in prison, and love got me out,” says Martinez.
Martinez plans to apply to the Pivot Program this fall and pursue his work of improving the lives of returning citizens. “This is just the beginning,” says Martinez.