Legal Update on Jarvis’ Wrongful Conviction Case

On Thursday, June 20, 2024, the U.S. District Court denied Jarvis’ motion for judgment on the pleadings of his federal habeas appeal. Petitioners are allowed to move for judgment solely on their pleadings under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c). The ruling on Jarvis’ motion for judgment on the pleadings is not a ruling on the habeas petition itself. We are still waiting indefinitely for a ruling from the court regarding the habeas petition, and in the meantime, continue to explore all legal avenues to help grant Jarvis the justice he has long deserved.

The battle for Jarvis’ exoneration from death row is not easy, but we remain confident in the strength of our evidence and legal arguments. While this is disappointing news, we are only further galvanized. Our fight for Jarvis’ freedom is far from over. Importantly, there are still several other paths to overturning Jarvis’ wrongful conviction, and we hope you will continue to join us in our collective efforts.

It is no small irony that this ruling was released the day after the Juneteenth federal holiday, a day of national acknowledgment of the historic delays for Black freedom. Despite the many injustices Jarvis has faced over the past three decades—including lengthy court delays that arguably constitute cruel and unusual punishment—he continues to remain resilient and optimistic. Read a recent personal message from him here.

The Campaign to Exonerate Jarvis Jay Masters is focused on securing Jarvis’ exoneration and highlighting the many facts that prove his innocence. Please continue to share Jarvis’ story with your respective networks and platforms, including encouraging others to sign Jarvis’ Change.org petition. Every moment he spends behind bars is another moment justice has not been served. The public must be informed about the grave miscarriage of justice in this case and demand Jarvis is freed.

Watch for more updates soon.