O’Melveny Team Secures Extraordinary Stay of Execution for Texas Inmate

Just two days before she was scheduled to be put to death by the state of Texas, a seven-lawyer O'Melveny pro bono team secured a stay of execution for capital defendant Melissa Lucio. Lucio was charged with murdering her 2-year-old daughter after the child fell down a flight of stairs.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals issued a rare stay of execution, ordering the lower court to consider new evidence of Lucio’s innocence. Lucio's attorneys, including a pro bono team from O'Melveny, now have the opportunity to present evidence on four claims: The state's use of false evidence to obtain her conviction; its failure to turn over favorable evidence to the defense at her trial; new scientific evidence; and evidence of actual innocence.

O'Melveny partner Meaghan VerGow and associate Grace Leeper were featured in Reuters' "Pro Bono Spotlight" video and discussed their role leading a team of O'Melveny attorneys that secured a stay of execution and saved the life of this grieving mother.