Barry Scheck, an American lawyer, rose to prominence for securing the acquittals of several high-profile cases, including that of superstar O.J. Simpson, who was charged for murder. With the use of DNA evidence, he cleared Dennis Fritz and Ron Williamson in 1999 of murder charges against them and Louise Woodward in her 1997 murder trial.

Building on the power of DNA evidence to expose false convictions, Barry Scheck formed the Innocent Project in 1992 with his colleague Peter Neufeld. Since then, the Project has helped reverse 218 wrongful convictions with the use of expert DNA evidence. Among his notable work include the exculpation of John Restivo, Reade Seligmann, John Kogut, and Dennis Halstead, all of whom were wrongfully imprisoned.

Scheck’s work has become standard-setting for crucial civil and criminal suits; his opinion is valued in federal agencies and law enforcement. His tremendous work has brought attention to sensitive issues such as sexual violence and police brutality with his victories at the Abner Luima sexual assault case and the Hedda Nussbaum case.

For almost two decades, Scheck has been teaching Legal Ethics and serving as Director of the Criminal Education and Trial Education and Trial Practice Program at the Yeshiva University’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

Barry Scheck is actively involved in the practice of criminal law. From 2004 to 2005, he became President of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. For his exemplary work, he was awarded the Robert C. Heeney Award for exemplifying “the goals and values of the Association and the legal profession.”

Among his other involvements include being a Commissioner of the Forensic Science Review board for New York and the American Bar Association.

Barry Scheck has published several articles on DNA evidence such as Raising and Litigating Claims of Electronic Surveillance. His non-fiction books Actual Innocence: Five Days to Execution, and Other Dispatches From the Wrongly Convicted, was published in 2000 by Doubleday.