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17 Apr 2026

Weil, Gotshal & Manges Secures Dismissal of Decades-Old Double-Murder Charges for James Genrich

"Weil, Gotshal & Manges, together with the Innocence Project, the Korey Wise Innocence Project and Colorado counsel, secured dismissal of decades-old double-murder charges against James "Jimmy" Genrich after a court granted a new trial due to unreliable toolmark matching. Mesa County prosecutors and police sought dismissal; Genrich remains imprisoned on related lesser convictions that Weil is appealing."

Weil, Gotshal & Manges, together with the Innocence Project, the Korey Wise Innocence Project and Colorado counsel Scott Troxell and Rebekka Higgs, represented client James "Jimmy" Genrich in securing the dismissal of decades-old double-murder charges arising from a series of pipe bombings in Grand Junction, Colorado. On April 13, 2026, the court dismissed the double-murder charges after previously granting Mr. Genrich a new trial on the basis that the State’s sole direct evidence—toolmark “matching”—is now widely regarded as scientifically unreliable. The dismissal follows Weil’s fifth appellate victory on behalf of Mr. Genrich during the course of a nearly decade-long representation. Both the Mesa County District Attorney’s Office and the Grand Junction Police Department concluded that obtaining a conviction on retrial was no longer legally or practically viable, particularly in light of potentially exculpatory new evidence, and therefore sought dismissal. Mr. Genrich continues to serve a 72-year sentence on related, lesser convictions that rest on the same discredited evidence. Earlier this year, a Colorado court ruled that Mr. Genrich is procedurally barred from contesting those lesser convictions because of a filing technicality; Weil and its partner organizations are now challenging that ruling on appeal. After maintaining his innocence for more than 30 years, Mr. Genrich has expressed that he is very pleased with this outcome, and the team will continue to press for his exoneration. Weil, Gotshal & Manges represented client James "Jimmy" Genrich with a team composed by: Brian Liegel, Greg Silbert, Marina Masterson, Anastasia Zaluckyj (Not Yet Admitted in New York), Jill Jacobson (Not Yet Admitted in Florida), and Retired Partner Irwin Warren. The Innocence Project represented client James "Jimmy" Genrich with a team composed by: Chris Fabricant. The Korey Wise Innocence Project represented client James "Jimmy" Genrich with a team composed by: Kathleen Lord. Colorado counsel represented client James "Jimmy" Genrich with a team composed by: Scott Troxell and Rebekka Higgs.
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