Ex-Director Of Northwestern's Center On Wrongful Convictions Dies

OAK PARK, IL — The former director of the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University's law school died Thursday after she was struck by a car near her home in Oak Park, authorities said.

Karen Daniel, 62, was fatally struck shortly after 8 a.m. in the 400 block of Pleasant Street by a car turning making a left turn to head east from Scoville Avenue, according to Oak Park police and the Cook County medical examiner's office. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Daniel is a Harvard Law School graduate and a former supervising attorney in the Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender, which provides attorneys on appeal to those unable to afford a private lawyer. She represented hundreds of defendants on post-conviction appeals before joining Northwestern's faculty, according to a biography on the law school's website.

"Karen was a fierce, tenacious and brilliant lawyer-advocate whose life's work was fighting for justice. She was universally beloved by her students, clients and colleagues, and her passing is felt near and far," Kim Yuracko, dean of the law school, said in a statement. "It is a huge loss for the Law School and the innocence movement, and she will be dearly missed."

Daniel began teaching at the Center on Wrongful Convictions in 2000, one year after it was founded, going on to co-direct it from 2013 to 2018, and she was named director emerita in September.

During her time at the center, work by Daniel and her students has led to the exoneration of dozens of wrongfully convicted people. She also founded the center's Women's Project in 2012. One client who Daniel helped obtain clemency and a certificate of innocence told the Chicago Tribune the impact of her work would be felt long after her death.

"Karen was as brilliant as she was caring," Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx said in a tweet. "She was a teacher, a mentor, an advocate, and an exceptional attorney. Karen was a true believer in justice and brought a unique spirit to this work that will be deeply missed."

This is a devastating loss. We will be forever grateful for Karen’s knowledge, experience, and insight with this work. https://t.co/RnOdHLziJr
— Cook County State's Attorney's Office (@cookcountysao) December 27, 2019

According to police, the driver who fatally struck Daniel, a 63-year-old Oak Park man, was issued citations for failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Field sobriety tests did not indicate he was impaired, and he provided samples of blood and urine for testing.

Police said they are continuing to investigate and asked anyone with information about the incident to contact the department at 708-386-3800 or provide anonymous tips by calling 708-434-1636 or submitting information online.

Services for Daniel are scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Oak Park Temple B’nai Abraham Zion, 1235 N. Harlem Ave., Oak Park.

Read more: Karen Daniel: A Tragic End To An Extraordinary Life And Career