final project

By dashakozma
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    Making a Murderer

    Kathleen Zellner, a Chicago attorney, announces that she will be taking over Avery's appeals in the hopes of overturning his conviction. Zellner notes that she has won exonerations for at least 16 people who were wrongfully convicted.
  • A high-powered team of lawyers files a petition for a writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court, asking justices to hear Dassey's appeal.

    A high-powered team of lawyers files a petition for a writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court, asking justices to hear Dassey's appeal.

  • The Seventh Circuit orders that Dassey remain in prison while the Wisconsin Department of Justice appeals the ruling.

    The Seventh Circuit orders that Dassey remain in prison while the Wisconsin Department of Justice appeals the ruling.

  • After

    Federal magistrate William Duffin of Milwaukee, in a 91-page ruling, grants Dassey's petition for writ of habeas corpus. Duffin's ruling gave Wisconsin prosecutors 90 days to decide whether to retry Dassey or release him. Duffin determined that Dassey's constitutional rights were violated and found that investigators made false promises to Dassey during questioning.

  • Zellner files a motion to support her request for additional scientific testing on behalf of Avery.

  • Duffin issues a 17-page ruling ordering that Dassey be released from prison as the Wisconsin Department of Justice appeals the ruling in August that overturned Dassey's murder conviction.

  • The appeals court in Chicago sides with the Wisconsin Department of Justice to block Dassey's release from the Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage while the case is under appeal.

  • Avery requests a new trial, claiming his conviction in Halbach's murder was based on planted evidence and false testimony by prosecution witnesses. The motion, filed by Zellner at the Manitowoc County courthouse.

    Avery requests a new trial, claiming his conviction in Halbach's murder was based on planted evidence and false testimony by prosecution witnesses. The motion, filed by Zellner at the Manitowoc County courthouse.

  • By a 2-1 margin, a judicial panel at the Seventh Circuit affirms Duffin's ruling that overturned Dassey's conviction.

  • Sheboygan County Judge Angela Sutkiewicz denies Avery's bid for a new trial. Sutkiewicz, who is overseeing the case in Manitowoc County court.

  • Zellner files notice with the circuit court that the case will be appealed to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.

    Zellner files notice with the circuit court that the case will be appealed to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.

  • For the second time, Sutkiewicz rejects Avery's request for a new trial. Zellner, had asked the judge to reconsider her Oct. 3 decision.

  • After

    In a major setback for Dassey, the Seventh Circuit rules 4-3 that his conviction be reinstated. The majority found that Dassey's confession to Halbach's murder had not been coerced. A harshly written dissent argued that the confession was not given voluntarily, and called the ruling a "travesty of justice."

  • After

    The Wisconsin Court of Appeals remands Avery's case to the circuit court to address a CD his attorneys hope to make part of the record. Zellner argued in her motion that the CD was only disclosed to Avery's lawyers in April and that it contains exculpatory, material evidence. Zellner said the state's failure to disclose the CD earlier violated Avery's due process rights.

  • After

    The U.S. Supreme Court announces it will not hear Dassey's appeal, dealing him a crushing blow and all but ensuring that he will remain in prison to serve his life term. The decision was hailed by Wisconsin justice officials. "We hope the family and friends of Ms. Halbach can find comfort in knowing this ordeal has finally come to a close," said Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel.

  • The DOJ requests a rehearing by the full Seventh Circuit, known as an "en banc" review. The request is subsequently granted.

  • After

    Sutkiewicz denies Avery's motion to supplement the record with the CD that his lawyers claimed contained exculpatory evidence. The ruling effectively denies a new trial for Avery. Zellner vows to take the case to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.