David A. Moran

David A. Moran is a Clinical Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School and co-founder of the Michigan Innocence Clinic, where he has directed wrongful conviction litigation since 2009. He teaches Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and clinic seminars while maintaining an active Supreme Court practice.

His educational background includes:

• BS in Physics from University of Michigan
• BA, MA, and CAS in Mathematics from University of Cambridge
• MS in Theoretical Physics from Cornell University
• JD, magna cum laude, from University of Michigan

Moran specializes in criminal procedure with deep expertise in wrongful convictions, search and seizure jurisprudence, and Confrontation Clause issues under Crawford v. Washington. His Innocence Clinic pioneered non-DNA exoneration strategies, focusing on shaken baby syndrome cases and child abuse prosecutions where forensic evidence was misapplied. The clinic's work demonstrates how cognitive biases and flawed forensic science perpetuate systemic errors in criminal justice.

His distinguished honors include:

• Eight-time 'Upperclass Professor of the Year' at Wayne State University
• 2010 'Michigan Lawyer of the Year' for Halbert v. Michigan impact litigation
• 2016 'Michiganian of the Year' for securing client exonerations

Moran mentors law students through the Michigan Innocence Clinic's casework, supervising investigations that have overturned 18 wrongful convictions totaling 250+ years of unjust imprisonment. He serves on the Innocence Network's executive board and Michigan's Rhodes-Marshall Scholarships Nominating Committee, while maintaining active involvement in federal habeas corpus reform through workshops and judicial education initiatives.

The Michigan Innocence Clinic operates as Moran's primary research laboratory, developing novel litigation frameworks for cases involving discredited forensic disciplines. The clinic collaborates with medical experts to challenge 'shaken baby syndrome' prosecutions and has influenced national discourse through media appearances and high-profile exonerations like the 'Baby Naomi' case.