Glynn Simmons Awarded $7.15 Million Settlement

Glynn Ray Simmons, a former death row inmate who spent nearly 50 years wrongfully incarcerated, has been awarded $7.15 million by the Edmond City Council in Oklahoma as part of a settlement related to his exoneration. Simmons, now 71, was convicted in 1975 for the murder of a liquor store clerk, a crime he did not commit, and his lawsuit alleged that police falsified evidence and withheld exonerating information. Despite this settlement, Simmons continues to pursue claims against other parties involved in his wrongful conviction, with a trial scheduled for March. He was released from prison in July 2023 after a judge vacated his conviction, and he was officially exonerated in December 2023. Simmons's attorney emphasized that while this financial award cannot replace the time lost, it will allow him to begin anew. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding wrongful convictions and accountability in the judicial system.