Renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump is speaking out about the exoneration of Robert Johnson, a man who spent nearly 30 years behind bars for a crime he maintains he did not commit.
In a statement on Instagram, Crump highlighted the injustice of Johnson’s wrongful conviction, writing:
“After nearly 30 years in prison for a murder he says he didn’t commit, Robert Johnson is finally free. No physical evidence or witnesses ever linked him to the crime—but he lost decades of his life. Stolen from his family at 16, now 45, he’s reclaiming his future. Wishing him healing.”
Decades-Long Fight for Justice
Johnson, now 45, walked free after a judge vacated his 1996 murder conviction. At just 16 years old, he was arrested for the fatal shooting of a man in a robbery on Chicago’s South Side.
His conviction rested solely on the testimony of another teenager, who later recanted. There was no physical evidence or eyewitness testimony linking Johnson to the crime.
“I kept on telling them, I didn’t have nothing to do with this. They didn’t believe me,” Johnson told CBS News Chicago in an interview following his release.
Adjusting to Freedom
After walking out of prison, Johnson’s first stop was to embrace his 92-year-old grandmother before celebrating his newfound freedom with a meal at Dave & Buster’s.
Adjusting to modern life has been a surreal experience for him—his cousin had to show him how to use a laptop for the first time.
“Can you watch movies on here?” he asked in amazement.
His attorney, Megan Richardson of the Exoneration Project, called Johnson’s case “stunning,” questioning how he was ever convicted in the first place.
What Comes Next?
The state has until next month to decide whether to appeal, retry, or dismiss the case. Prosecutors did not move to detain Johnson pending his next hearing on March 13, signaling that a retrial may be unlikely.
Despite spending nearly three decades wrongfully imprisoned, Johnson remains hopeful that his story will inspire others fighting for justice.
“Seeing someone actually walk out of here, it let me know it can be done. You just got to be patient. But it was hope. It gave me hope,” Johnson said.
Legal Implications and the Fight Against Wrongful Convictions
Johnson’s case underscores systemic issues in the criminal justice system, particularly concerning wrongful convictions based on unreliable testimony.
His release follows a growing number of exonerations nationwide, as organizations like the Exoneration Project and attorneys like Ben Crump continue advocating for those unjustly imprisoned.
