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Law School Professor, Staff Attorney, and Students Help Grandmother Get a Chance at Freedom

May 3, 2019

Courtney Cross, Director of the Domestic Violence Law Clinic, and Terrika Shaw, a Staff Attorney in the Elder Law Clinic, are quoted in a WBRC story about a grandmother sentenced to life without parole for drug trafficking.

Cross, Shaw, Tuscaloosa Criminal Defense Attorney Joel Sogol, and six law students strategized on legal options for Geneva Cooley. 

In March, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Stephen Wallace granted a Rule 32 petition which reduced Cooley’s sentence to life with the possibility of parole, according to the WBRC story. After 17 years in prison, Cooley may be considered for parole this year.

For more, read “Grandmother Sentenced to Life without Parole in AL for Drugs Gets Chance at Freedom.


The University of Alabama School of Law strives to remain neutral on issues of public policy. The Law School’s communications team may facilitate interviews or share opinions expressed by faculty, staff, students, or other individuals regarding policy matters. However, those opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Law School, the University, or affiliated leadership.