Help us petition for Derek Martinez’s clemency.

Mr. Martinez has been incarcerated for a crime he did not commit for over 20 years. Despite having presented decisive evidence proving his innocence, he has exhausted all legal avenues for relief.

The DNA evidence present at the crime scene was only tested decades after the crime, and conclusively rules out Mr. Martinez. The original suspects were never properly cleared, and the only testimony used to convict Mr. Martinez has since been recanted and proven false by experts. There has never been any physical or circumstantial evidence linking him to the crime. We are asking that Governor Newsom reviews this case and grants clemency to Derek Martinez.

His conviction, like so many others, shows a system that values finality over fairness. We are asking that Governor Gavin Newsom establish a state-led and apolitical Commission for post-conviction review (like that set out by the North Carolina Innocence Commission.) This commission is both feasible and necessary to ensure fairness through proper checks and balances, due process protections, equal treatment under the law, and an impartial review process. This California Commission could help many people like Mr. Martinez and be the example for the country in the application of the rule of law – equally and impartially.