We deliver justice to the wrongfully convicted.
Our Mission
At NEWIRTH LINEHAN, we are dedicated to righting the gravest injustices: the conviction and incarceration of innocent individuals and the violation of criminal defendants’ constitutional rights by state actors. Our mission is to restore freedom and justice to those whom the criminal legal system has failed.
Who We Are
We have dedicated our legal careers to fighting injustice—as both defense attorney and prosecutor. We are experts in wrongful convictions, having been involved in more than 50 exonerations and having secured tens of millions of dollars in compensation for those who have been wrongfully convicted.
Our commitment to uncovering the truth and vindicating our clients’ rights has won us the respect of our colleagues, our adversaries, and the bench. We use our earned credibility to resolve our clients’ cases favorably and expeditiously through collaboration with state actors whenever possible. When we can’t agree, however, we don’t hesitate to litigate. We bring our decades of courtroom experience to bear on getting the right result.
Our Commitment
We know that the criminal justice system prioritizes finality over truth. We combine rigorous investigation, innovative legal strategy, and tireless advocacy to uncover that truth—in the form of overlooked evidence, procedural errors, or misconduct—and use it to overturn wrongful convictions and vindicate our clients’ rights.
Our Approach
Relentless
We leave no stone unturned in our investigations, following every lead and examining every angle to build compelling cases for our clients' freedom.
Strategic
We work cooperatively with prosecutors whenever possible, but we are always prepared to vigorously litigate in court when necessary.
Fearless
We are unafraid to challenge authority and expose wrongdoing at every level of the justice system, from police misconduct to prosecutorial overreach to judicial error.
Client-centered
We recognize the profound trauma of wrongful conviction and incarceration and provide compassionate, dedicated representation to our clients and support for their loved ones from day one.
Our Impact
Every exoneration we secure not only frees a wrongfully convicted person but also strengthens the integrity of our justice system. By exposing the myriad ways cases go wrong and holding those responsible to account, we work to prevent future injustices and uphold the fundamental principle that liberty should never be compromised by error or misconduct.
At NEWIRTH LINEHAN, we measure our success in justice served and lives restored.
LAWYERS
Karen A. Newirth
Karen has spent more than two decades dedicated to defending the rights of the accused, seeking justice for the wrongfully convicted, and transforming the criminal legal system. Her unwavering commitment to public interest advocacy and her pioneering legal work have made her a nationally recognized leader in the fight against wrongful convictions.
Charles F. Linehan
Charlie has dedicated his career to advancing justice—whether fighting for justice on behalf of crime victims, striving to correct systemic failures in our justice system, or working to prevent future injustices. Before co-founding NEWIRTH LINEHAN, Charlie served as Chief of the Conviction Review Unit (CRU) at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, widely regarded as the nation’s leading CRU. During his three-year tenure, he expanded the unit to ten attorneys, implemented groundbreaking technological and procedural reforms that enhanced the unit’s efficiency and impact, and secured a dozen exonerations.
