Georgia Innocence Project

After fighting his wrongful incarceration for nearly 21 years, Marquez Powell was finally fully exonerated and free on June 18, 2026! Marquez Powell was wrongfully convicted in 2008 for a murder in Atlanta, Georgia, that he did not commit. He was only 20 years old when the State alleged that he participated in a plan to rob his best friend who was fatally shot by someone else. We are elated to welcome Marquez into Georgia's community of innocent freed and exonerated people.

To support Marquez's private GoFundMe, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-marquez-powell.

Read more about Marquez and his case at georgiainnocenceproject.org/freed-client/marquez-powell

We sat down with Susan Hurd to learn more about her background, her work at Alston & Bird, and her pro bono experience supporting Georgia Innocence Project's case-screening efforts.

Pro bono partners are essential to our mission. If you’re curious about what Georgia Innocence Project’s pro bono partners make possible, exploring a legal career with impact, or simply interested in the people behind our work, read our latest blog post at georgiainnocenceproject.org/general/susan-hurd-2026/.