Patrick King and Jason Bussey, Partners at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
NCIP is honoring law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (Simpson) for its steadfast commitment to public service, at NCIP’s Justice for All Awards Dinner On March 17, 2016. Jason Bussey and Patrick King will be accepting the Pro Bono award on behalf of the firm. Bussey and King are both partners in the litigation department of Simpson’s Silicon Valley office in Palo Alto.
Over the last several years, Simpson has devoted hundreds of pro bono hours and spent thousands of dollars assisting NCIP with multiple cases. In 2012, Simpson partnered with NCIP to obtain the exoneration of Jimmie Dick.
Jimmie Dick’s mother hugs him for the first time in 30 years after his exoneration.
In 1982, Jimmie Dick was arrested and convicted of a murder in Oakland. He was convicted based on an eyewitness who said that Jimmie had been the driver of a car that purposefully drove into and killed a man. Evidence surfaced that someone else had been bragging for years that he, not Jimmie, had been the actual driver of the car and had passed the blame to then 17-year old Jimmie.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office asked that NCIP be appointed to investigate the case and prepare a habeas petition on Mr. Dick’s behalf. NCIP attorneys and students, along with Brandon Martin and Patrick King of Simpson, worked together to re-investigate the crime, conducting dozens of witness interviews, a scene reenactment, and volumes of paper review. The team filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus and the DA’s office agreed to a reversal of Jimmie’s conviction.
Two teams of Simpson lawyers, consisting of partners and associates, are currently working with NCIP attorneys on behalf of two other wrongfully convicted NCIP clients. Simpson attorneys bring with them strong research skills, superb writing skills, top-notch negotiation skills, and tremendous resources to help with case investigation. NCIP Legal Director Linda Starr described NCIP’s partnership with Simpson as “an open dialogue. When it comes to presenting a claim, there is a constant evolution of how best to present the case. That is the most effective way to work.”
NCIP is pleased to partner with Simpson to promote a fair, effective and compassionate criminal justice system and protect the rights of the innocent.
For information on the Justice For All Dinner, celebrating NCIP’s 15 year anniversary, please visit: www.justiceforalldinner.com
