Constitution Day Lecture to Feature Harold J. Winston

Assistant public defender to speak Sept. 15, at The College of Wooster

WOOSTER, Ohio – Harold J. Winston, a supervisor in the Legal Resources Division of the Cook County Public Defender’s Office in Illinois, will present “Overturning a Wrong Conviction After 26 Years: Lessons from Alton Logan” at the Constitution Day Lecture on Thursday, Sept. 15, at The College of Wooster. The free public lecture will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Room 105 of Scovel Hall (944 College Mall).

Winston graduated with honors from Loyola University Law School and clerked for Justice Allen Hartman of the Illinois Appellate Court. Before going to work for Cook County, he worked on John Wayne Gacy’s federal habeas reply brief.

Winston, who appeared in a 60 Minutes television segment regarding the Alton Logan case, has obtained new trials in eight separate cases for clients convicted of murder. He has published several articles in law bulletins and provided a post-conviction training to attorneys in the Will County Public Defender’s office. Additionally, Winston has been active in the Chicago Coalition for Police Accountability, testified before the Police Committee of the Chicago City Council, and negotiated with City of Chicago Corporation Counsel, Mara Georges.

A Class ‘A’ Chess player, Winston serves as Chairman of the U.S. Chess Trust and was a past president of the U.S. Chess Federation. He is currently co-chairman of the Bylaws Committee of the United States Chess Federation.

Constitution Day is intended to celebrate not only the birthday of our government, but also the ideas that make us Americans. The United States Government has designated Sept. 17 as Constitution Day to commemorate the Sept. 17, 1787 signing of the U.S. Constitution.

The Constitution Day Lecture is sponsored by The College of Wooster's Pre-Law Advising Program. Additional information is available by phone (330-263-2380) or email.