Link to Featured Article by Laura Pierro
Executive Director, NC Innocence Inquiry Commission
Laura Pierro earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Linguistics and Spanish from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and a Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law. She began her legal career as a law clerk to three criminal judges of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Monmouth Vicinage and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. Thereafter, she was hired by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office in Toms River, New Jersey, where she spent the next 20 years serving in various roles from Assistant Prosecutor in the Grand Jury, Juvenile and Trial Sections, to Director of the Special Victims’ Unit, Trial Team Leader, Chief of the Trial Section and ultimately the Deputy Executive Prosecutor in charge of all litigation. In 2019, Mrs. Pierro was appointed to the bench as a United States Immigration Judge. After serving in Manhattan, she then transferred to one of the Immigration Courts in New Jersey before electing to leave the bench to become the Executive Director of the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission. Mrs. Pierro has been recognized throughout her career for her achievements as a member of both the bench and Bar and has been the recipient of awards honoring her commitment to victims in the criminal justice system. She is honored to be directing the Commission.
Case Study: Clarence Roberts
Last spring, and with assistance from the NC Innocence Inquiry Commission, attorney Reid Cater, co-counselor Cecilia Reyna and case investigator Brandon Hodges led an effort reverse a wrongful conviction for an innocent man.
Clarence Roberts had been incarcerated for 12 years for a murder that he did not commit. On April 16, 2025, a three-judge panel made that official by exonerating him after a three-day hearing.
To read about Mr. Roberts’ exoneration, click here.
In the words of the defenders:
“Indigent defense is an uphill battle. At times, it can be hard to feel that your efforts are making a difference. Winning Mr. Roberts’ release was a validation that, at least sometimes, quality lawyering can create positive change.”
Reid Cater, lead attorney
To the trial attorneys out there: “Take on those other areas of practice you have been thinking about! This was my first post-conviction case, and I knew going in that we had only a few months to prepare. This would also be the first hearing post-statute-change, so both Reid and I felt out of our element at times. But we decided to just hit the ground running. We tapped into what we each had in our wheelhouse of skills, then we contacted colleagues, attorneys we never even met before; as always, Sarah Olson (IDS Forensic Resource Counsel) came through with some mid-trial genius. There was no one unwilling to put thought into this case if we asked. The criminal defense community in North Carolina is ripe with defense attorneys who want to brainstorm with you, want to help find creative solutions, share ideas; they want to see your client win. There are so many of us in love with this work that you really never have to try a case alone. So, if you have been thinking about it: take the case.”
Cecilia Reyna, co-counselor
Celebrating wins like this helps to make the work lighter and the toiling easier to bear.
When you feel jaded, you are encouraged to think about Clarence Roberts, the time he served and his long-awaited release from prison. Remember why you do what you do.