Marissa Bluestine

Now with the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at Penn Law, Marissa Bluestine led the Pennsylvania Innocence Project as Legal Director and then Executive Director for the first decade of its existence, from 2009-2019. During that time, Bluestine spearheaded efforts to successfully reverse 14 wrongful convictions while establishing the PA Innocence Project as a major player in statewide criminal justice reform.

In addition to direct advocacy for the actually innocent, Bluestine engaged in public education, advocacy, and legislative reform efforts on issues relating to innocence and the criminal justice system. Working directly with law enforcement, she assisted in their response to the challenges raised by the over 300 DNA exonerations nationwide through improving investigative techniques.

Prior to her work with the PA Innocence Project, Bluestine worked for over 10 years as an Assistant Defender with the Defender Association of Philadelphia, and for several years as a litigation associate at Duane Morris. In April, 2010, the Legal Intelligencer included her in its biennial list of “Women of Distinction.” In 2013, the Philadelphia Bar Association honored her with the Andrew Hamilton Award for Distinguished Service in Public Interest Law.

Bluestine is a graduate of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut and Temple University School of Law.



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