Friedman appeal Memorandum of Law
Jesse Friedman Legal Defense Fund
Information About Recovered Memory Syndrome
(a film by David and Jesse Friedman)
(a memoir about prison life)
The newest member of my family
Pearl
Jesse Friedman's Web Site
My wife Elisabeth and I were overjoyed with July 2007 ruling from Judge Joanna Seybert. After twenty years of fighting for a fair hearing before an impartial judge, it appeared that day had finally arrived. A special letter from Elisabeth Friedman. As for where things stand now: Here is the update.
In March 2008 I sent out an updated e-mail regarding how things are going with my life. Feel free to read my letter which I've posted.
I want to thank all the thousands of well-wishers who contacted me with support and compassion over the years. That outpouring of support has given me strength to carry on the good fight and work towards building a new life for myself.
My brother now has a Website with information about my appeal. He will be providing updated information about my legal defense fund (www.friedmandefensefund.org) as well as updates on the progress of the legal fight. We were in court on October 3rd, 2007 for a hearing.
I'm going to try and explain what the Decision from Judge Seybert meant in plain language, and where things stand with the appeal on-going, at my Legal Documents page. It is a little complicated in terms of procedure.
The joy of being able to finally call witnesses and possibly achieve a fair hearing was almost a reality, but now seems lost to me. I had really moved-on with my life (as you can read about below). I had promised myself I would fight this appeal through to the end, but I convinced myself we had already seen that "end". My joy is tempered with sadness over the (thus far) final decision.
I have been doing some editing with Final Cut Pro of our honeymoon videos. Two of them are posted with You Tube.
I would like to bring to peoples’ attention a new short film by writer / director Adam Kargman: Repressions.
The day after my parole my wife Elisabeth and I left for a coast-to-coast road trip; a much deserved vacation. Along the way we stopped in Las Vegas and got married on January 2nd. We got married on our honeymoon. What could be better than that! Here are some PHOTOS FROM OUR TRIP!!
I will continue to post some updates {last update 03/22/08} about the status of my appeal, and other events.
My parole ended. After nineteen years, I am finally a free man. The nightmare is not over. I doubt it will ever be over, but with each passing day I am able to build something new atop the rubble and create a wonderful new life for myself.
In December 2006 there was a giant party: A triple celebration. One) Commemorating the completion of my parole. Two) Celebrating Elisabeth Walsh's graduation from the Aveda Institute, at the top of her class, with a degree in cosmetology, and a specialty in coloring. I am extremely proud of her. She makes me happy. So happy, in fact, that: Three) We got married in January!
The appeal is officially called a "440 Motion" which is a petition to vacate my conviction based upon newly discovered evidence. I have a brief summary of the appeal, but for a detailed explanation and updates see my appeal page. A pdf of the Memorandum of Law, the legal brief of my appeal, is available to be viewed or downloaded. I have also made available twelve affidavits submitted in support of my motion.
I am still struggling with learning how to be happy, but this has been the longest stretch of my life without a crisis since 1987. For that I am thankful. I am also thankful for "Capturing the Friedmans" which has lead to so many positive events in my life.
In the meantime, I carry on from day to day like everyone else. I love my wife beyond measure. She makes me happy, but it is still a struggle. It is still difficult for me to allow myself to be happy, but I’m not miserable anymore, and that is a huge victory.
Elisabeth and I have been selling used books and CD's which friends and family have been 'donating'. We have even taken to trolling thrift stores in search of cheap books in bulk, and then listing them for sale used with Amazon.com. If anyone is an avid bookworm (as we are) please check out our inventory with Amazon under the seller name of NeedsSomeExtraCash. All our books are priced to sell, often as the cheapest copy available. http://www.amazon.com/shops/needsomeextracash/
I would like to direct everyone's attention to an amazing article by Debbie Nathan for the Los Angeles Times about the McMartin case. This one young man has come forward to completely recant his childhood allegations of sexual abuse. The similarities between what he shares, and what children involved with the police detectives in my case have shared (also now as adults) are startling.
It was important to me that Capturing the Friedmans would raise awareness about the issue of imaginary crimes. I have been working with the National Center for Reason and Justice to help those much less fortunate than I -- namely those still in prison unjustly due to mass-hysteria sex-abuse scandals.
I have also been enjoying a newfound energy for my artwork. I've been painting with increasing regularity this past year. Our tiny apartment is overflowing with canvases, and other artwork. Someday it would be nice to sell some of it, but I’m not sure when or how I might approach that.
Please feel free to write to me, Jesse@freejesse.net. I love hearing from people who have seen the film and feel moved to write. I do my best to reply personally to everyone, and I am keeping an e-mail mailing list to update people about my appeal as events warrant.
Jesse
"Does a firm persuasion that a thing is so, make it so?" -- William Blake
If you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain, "Move from here" and it will move. -- Mt 17:20