Notre Dame Law School’s Exoneration Justice Clinic (EJC) has recently hired a new full-time legal fellow, Matt Binder.

Initially, Matt will be working on all EJC cases, but he will eventually focus exclusively on cases for the Program for the Defense of Mexican Nationals in Criminal Matters in the United States (PDM).

After receiving his JD from the University of Michigan cum laude, Binder joined Sidley Austin LLP as a litigation associate, defending clients in consumer class actions and toxic tort mass actions. He additionally represented a pro bono client on innocence claims in state post-conviction and federal habeas proceedings over a five year period.

While at University of Michigan Law School, Binder served as an articles editor of the University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform, as well as a board member and Finalist of the 1L Oral Advocacy Competition and competed in the Campbell Moot Court.

"Matt left a prestigious law firm in Chicago to join the EJC and use his legal training to fight for justice and our innocent clients. His passion for justice and commitment to serving the most vulnerable members of society makes him a perfect fit for Notre Dame and the EJC," said Jimmy Gurulé, director of the Exoneration Justice Clinic.

The Exoneration Justice Clinic, launched in fall 2020, is dedicated to correcting miscarriages of justice through rigorous investigation, litigation, and overturning of wrongful convictions. The EJC also provides exonerated clients with access to a network of social support services including education and vocational training, transitional housing, and health care services, including mental health counseling, and other programs.

In fall of 2023, the EJC was awarded a $3 million grant by Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to defend Mexican nationals in U.S. criminal cases. This three-year pilot program will work to both overturn wrongful convictions and provide pre-trial assistance to prevent wrongful convictions in the first place.

"Working at the EJC is a dream job. It affords me the opportunity to correct the miscarriage of justice suffered by the victims of wrongful convictions and work closely with law students in this effort and assist them in developing their legal skills," said Binder.

The EJC’s expansion through this grant will provide Notre Dame Law students with real-world lawyer experience as well as furthering the EJC commitment to justice. Binder’s addition to the EJC will be an integral part of this process.

Originally published by Quinn Sanderson at law.nd.edu on October 31, 2024.