About the event

This exceptional event includes an introduction to Amicus, a UK based nonprofit working for those facing a death sentence in the US by Amicus Director, Margot Ravenscroft. Samantha Knights KC (Matrix) presents ‘Increasing access to justice – right to a fair trial and fair procedure’ and Nina Jayne Carroll (Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton) introduces Sunny Jacobs (Death row exoneree & Founder and President of the Sunny Center Foundation USA) who shares her story of being an innocent on death row, and the impact of pro bono support in her life.

Closing Q & A will be hosted by Carolann Minnock (Arthur Cox). A reception will follow, ensuring time to meet the panel and connect with colleagues. 

• When: Thursday 12 June 2025, 5.30pm - 8pm

• Where: Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7, D07 VY24

• Booking: Book online

Meet our speakers

Samantha Knights KC

Samantha Knights KC is a barrister at Matrix specialising in public law including refugee and trafficking, prison, and immigration law. Samantha teaches widely and was formerly Adjunct Professor at the University of Miami School of Law. She has contributed to pro bono work throughout her career in the UK and abroad including at the Islington Law Centre, European Human Rights Advocacy Centre, the Bar Human Rights Committee, and as a reviewer of Bar Pro Bono/Advocate. She led a rule of law FCDO funded project in Afghanistan 2006-8 which won the Bar Pro Bono Award. She was an Amicus intern at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in New York in 2000 working with George Kendall and worked in particular on the cases of Wilbert Rideau and Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Reams. She subsequently helped Kenny organise an art exhibition in London, has spoken with him at festivals and universities about the film Free Men which tells his story.

Sunny Jacobs, Death Row Exoneree, Founder and president of The Sunny Center Foundation USA

Sunny served seventeen years in prison, five on death row, before her conviction was eventually overturned. Sunny and her first husband, Jesse Tafero, were both wrongly convicted of the shooting of two police officers in Florida in 1976. Jesse was executed before his conviction in 1990 despite the significant ongoing doubt about his guilt. Sunny’s death row ordeal later became one of six stories told through the acclaimed play The Exonerated. The play was also adapted for television with Susan Sarandon playing Sunny. Sunny has also presented to the United Nations and The Council of Europe about the death penalty and gender. She has worked with and promoted education in 13 countries. Peter Pringle, Sunny’s late husband who was himself on death row in Ireland and exonerated, worked tirelessly with Sunny as co-founder of the Sunny Center; Sunny continues to do the work inspired by him in his spirit, and, in his honor. 

Margot Ravenscroft, Director of Amicus

Margot joined Amicus in 2007 after working for the Bar Pro Bono Unit (now Advocate).  Previously she worked in California at the offices of Clarence & Dyer LLP on death penalty appeals alongside white collar crime matters. On returning to the UK, she continued in the field working pro bono on Jamaican capital cases while working in re-insurance litigation at Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP. She also served on the National Pro Bono Committee and on the organising committee for the UK's first Pro Bono Conference.

Carolann Minnock, Of Counsel Pro Bono, Arthur Cox

Carolann heads up the pro bono practice at Arthur Cox and is responsible for the strategic development and oversight of pro bono. As a practising solicitor, Carolann advises on immigration law matters. She has extensive experience developing and managing pro bono initiatives, bringing over 10 years of international rule of law experience to the role. Arthur Cox is proud to have supported the Amicus Project since 2018, as part of a global team working to support under-resourced capital defence teams in the US in cases at both State and Federal levels.

Nina Jayne Carroll, Associate, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Nina Jayne is a litigation associate working in the London office of Cleary Gottlieb. Her practice centres around advising clients on complex competition and commercial litigation. Nina is dual qualified, having trained in Matheson LLP in Ireland before commencing her career in London. Alongside her corporate work, Nina is proud to maintain an active pro-bono practice, focusing on international human rights law. She also has experience in developing pro bono initiatives, having played an integral role in commencing a workstream under the Afghan Admissions Programme from its inception. Nina commenced working with Amicus once qualified and is thrilled to have brought this event to life, working for a number of months with Amicus and Arthur Cox to make this happen.

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