20 Facts About Michael Semanchik

Michael "Mike" Semanchik is the Executive Director of The Innocence Center and former Managing Attorney at the California Innocence Project.

Michael Semanchik has spoken at a number of conferences relating to investigations and his work with the California Innocence Project.

Michael Semanchik has appeared in the media relating to this work over three dozen times.

Michael Semanchik has authored essays relating to the criminal justice system, advocating for reform.

Michael Semanchik supervised and oversaw law students in the clinical program.

Michael Semanchik has interviewed and hired as many as 60 interns a year.

Michael Semanchik managed CIP's social media presence and website, and produces film and videos for promotional materials.

Michael Semanchik coordinated with news agencies around the world to maximize CIP's media exposure.

Michael Semanchik located, around the US, witnesses for cases, and interviews potential clients in prisons all over California.

Michael Semanchik often wears a shirt with the lettering "XONR8".

Michael Semanchik helped defend Guy Miles, who was wrongly convicted of robbery.

Michael Semanchik explained in a television interview why the eyewitness identifications in this case were unreliable, and why standards regarding such testimony must be strengthened.

Michael Semanchik Hanline was suspected of having murdered him, with the help of an accomplice, because he and McGarry had both been involved with the same woman.

Michael Semanchik has often given print and broadcast interviews to make the case for criminal justice reform.

Michael Semanchik indicated that he has provided facts to lawmakers to encourage them to repeal this "timeliness" rule.

Michael Semanchik claimed that he had no hesitation about asking more than one analyst to examine the same data, but was troubled by the implications.

Michael Semanchik supported the 2015 decision of the Los Angeles District Attorney's office to set up a team of veteran prosecutors to review the cases of incarcerated persons who present new evidence that they were wrongfully convicted.

Michael Semanchik has stated in a video interview that one of his toughest personal challenges as a member of the California Innocence Project occurs when, following a review of the case of a person he believes was wrongfully convicted, he is forced to close that case because he knows that the evidence of innocence would not be considered sufficient by a judge to reverse the incarcerated person's conviction.

Michael Semanchik was one of 60 lawyers honored by California Lawyer magazine as one of its 2013 Attorneys of the Year.

Michael Semanchik argued that that standard should be brought into line with those in other states, which have ruled that it is only necessary to prove that new evidence would probably have resulted in a different verdict if introduced at time of trial.