The Medlin Law Firm
Medlin Client Falsely Convicted Of Murder Exonerated After 21 Years
On Wednesday, a State district Judge exonerated 44-year-old John Earl Nolley for the 1996 murder of Sharon McLane. Nolley was released after 19 years in prison in May 2016 but was not declared innocent until a Texas judge signed an order following the emergence of new evidence. The order qualifies Nolley for state compensation. Nolley’s conviction was based on two jailhouse snitches and circumstantial evidence. Gary Medlin, an attorney at Medlin Law, worked with The Innocence Project to call key evidence into question. The integrity unit at the organization revisited files on informants and was able to discredit the informants, confirming they lied in their testimonies. The Innocence Project also used advanced forensic technology to unlink Nolley from the physical evidence. Louis Sturns, a State District judge, apologized to Nolley for the 21 years he lost from this wrongful conviction, which includes 19 years in jail in addition to two years of waiting for his name to be cleared. “I have signed the order dismissing your case,” Sturns said. “I want to apologize for what happened to you. I realize that I cannot take back 21 years, but to the extent that words can express our sorrow, I apologize for what happened.” “I’ve always believed he was innocent,” said Attorney Gary Medlin said. Medlin was Nolley’s original defense attorney in 1997 and 1998. “It was the hardest thing to look at him after he had been convicted by a jury. Most people are angry — looking for someone to blame, he just cried.” Medlin added. Medlin law urges those who believe they were wrongfully arrested to reach out to them for legal support. With the proper defense strategies and research, attorneys at Medlin law may be able to help.
Embarrassment drives many of these cases before the evidence ever does. A few messages, a hotel arrangement, or a sting operation can quickly become a felony accusation in Fort Worth, even when the actual communication is more ambiguous than the charge suggests. The Medlin Law Firm helps clients by slowing that process down and reading the full record, not just the worst line quoted in a police report. In solicitation cases, the wording, sequence, and context of the messages often matter more than the headline attached to the arrest. The firm reviews the conversation thread, undercover reports, timeline, and any missing recordings or gaps in the evidence. Cases involving phones, apps, and undercover contact need careful review because the facts are often narrower than the accusation. Fort Worth clients need more than reassurance in this situation. They need a clear look at what the State can prove, what evidence should be preserved, and how to respond before reputation damage gets ahead of the case itself. The Medlin Law Firm 1300 S University Dr #318 Fort Worth, TX 76107 (682) 204-4066 https://www.MedlinFirm.com/locations/fort-worth/