One fateful night in December of 2000 in Madison, WI, James Foote was the victim of a racially-motivated hate crime, attacked by a group of intoxicated white men who were unknown to him, armed with tire irons and a pit bull. He fortunately succeeded in defending himself and fleeing the scene relatively unharmed, but the violence didn’t end there that night. These same individuals subsequently attacked one of their own, leaving him in a vegetative state and conspired to pin their vicious crime on James, providing his description to the police and later providing false testimony in court leading to his conviction.

Despite no history of violence, James was wrongfully convicted of attempted homicide and sentenced to 40 years in prison plus 20-year extended supervision, found guilty by a nearly all-white jury (11 of 12). Their decision was based on false testimony by unreliable ‘witnesses’ with motive, and on a flawed forensic investigation. Detailed statements from impartial witnesses confirming the perpetrators of the crime were white, as well as a forensics expert’s report discrediting the prosecution’s case re. the weapon allegedly used to commit the crime were both ignored.

To date, James has served 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. His children have grown up without his physical presence, family elders have passed on, he has suffered loneliness and recently was infected with COVID during an outbreak at the prison where he is presently incarcerated. Despite all he has endured he remains a positive, caring and forgiving person whose only desire is freedom and the possibility to contribute to his community and the cause of criminal justice reform.

We are asking Dane County District Attorney Ismael R. Ozanne to immediately review the evidence of James' case, and we are asking Governor Tony Evers to be true to his statements in favour of reforming Wisconsin's criminal justice system - do not allow a wrongfully convicted man to remain in prison another day under your watch!