With a Chance at Freedom, They Faced an Unexpected Obstacle: Their Own Lawyers
Milique Wagner faced significant obstacles in his quest for freedom, including opposition from his own court-appointed lawyer. A review of similar cases in Philadelphia revealed that many lawyers failed to adequately represent their clients, often urging judges to dismiss their claims. This systemic issue has resulted in wrongful convictions and prolonged imprisonment for numerous individuals.
- ▪Court-appointed lawyers in Philadelphia can argue against their clients' claims under the Post Conviction Relief Act.
- ▪A review of 250 reversed convictions found that many lawyers did minimal work and overlooked legitimate legal issues.
- ▪Wagner's case is one of at least 50 where lawyers claimed no basis for appeal, only for judges to later grant new trials.
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Milique Wagner spent more than a decade in prison fighting his murder conviction. One obstacle he faced along the way to winning his freedom was opposition from his own lawyer. Jessica Griffin/The Philadelphia Inquirer With a Chance at Freedom, They Faced an Unexpected Obstacle: Their Own Lawyers by Samantha Melamed and Dylan Purcell, The Philadelphia Inquirer Co-published with The Philadelphia Inquirer May 19, 2026, 5:00 am {"componentName":"ShareToolsRebrand","props":{"pageTitle":"","pageUrl":"https://www.propublica.org/article/conviction-challenges-philadelphia-law"},"contextArray":[]} {"componentName":"DarkModeToggleRebrand","props":{},"contextArray":[]} Contrast Change Appearance AutoLightDark This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with The…
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