On July 15, 2008, MAIP hosted its first annual awards luncheon.  The winner of our Champion of Justice award was former Virginia Governor and current U.S. Senate candidate Mark Warner.  MAIP honored Governor Warner for his extraordinary contribution to the cause of justice.  In 2005, after DNA evidence retained by a former state forensic examiner cleared five men of rape, Governor Warner ordered the Virginia crime lab to perform DNA tests in more than 1,000 old cases in which biological evidence was saved.  This unprecedented review , which is currently in process, is the first of its kind in any state.  Governor Warner was introduced by Marvin Anderson, a Virginia man whom he had pardoned when DNA evidence found in the state lab proved that he had not committed the rape of which he had been convicted.  The event was also attended by exonerees Beverly Monroe, Willie Davidson, and Julius Ruffin. 

In addition to the exonerees, the event was attended by more than 200 lawyers, law students, and other members of the community.  It raised nearly $100,000 for the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project.  We are grateful to our generous sponsors for making the event such a success.