Sarah Gottlieb’s Research on Conviction Integrity Units Featured in The Champion The review highlights Gottlieb’s examination of whether prosecutor-led conviction review can effectively address wrongful convictions.

By Law Communications
September 21, 2026

Washington and Lee University School of Law professor Sarah Gottlieb’s recent scholarship on Conviction Integrity Units has been featured in the August 2026 issue of The Champion, the magazine of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Gottlieb’s article, “The Indelible Flaws of Conviction Integrity Units,” was published in Volume 97 of the University of Colorado Law Review. Ellen S. Podgor, a professor at Stetson University College of Law and co-chair of The Champion Advisory Board, highlighted the article in the magazine’s “Reviews in Review” section.

Conviction Integrity Units, or CIUs, are typically located within prosecutors’ offices and are charged with reviewing claims of wrongful conviction. Gottlieb’s article examines whether that structure allows CIUs to provide the sincere, independent, and transparent review necessary to correct wrongful convictions.

Drawing on an analysis of CIUs in three jurisdictions with high numbers of exonerations, Gottlieb identifies structural and operational problems within the units and develops a framework for understanding what she describes as their “inherent flaws.” Her analysis considers the ethical role of prosecutors in correcting wrongful convictions, the potential conflict created when prosecutors review convictions obtained by their own offices, and shortcomings in the transparency and operation of existing CIUs.

In her review, Podgor points to the broader implications of Gottlieb’s research and its potential contribution to reform.

“Professor Gottlieb’s important study and her noting of key deficiencies in CIUs, such as their lack of transparency, has one wonder if perhaps modifications can enhance the system,” Podgor writes. “Perhaps this discussion of the flaws in CIUs can assist in creating a new approach for addressing wrongful convictions.”

If you know a W&L faculty member who has done great, accolade-worthy things, tell us about them! Nominate them for an accolade.