UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For many law students, the opportunity to work on complex post-conviction cases is rare; for students in the Penn State Dickinson Law Criminal Appellate and Post-Conviction Services Clinic, such an opportunity presented itself in the case of Subramanyam “Subu” Vedam.
In March 2022, clinic students under the leadership and guidance of Clinic Director and Associate Clinical Professor of Law Gopal Balachandran took on the case of Vedam, a State College man who was convicted of first-degree murder in 1983 and serving out a life sentence in the state correctional institution at Huntingdon. After a year’s worth of meticulous review of evidence and documentation and detailed legal research, the clinic filed a Post-Conviction Relief Act (PCRA) petition containing key evidence that could have affected the outcome of Vedam’s original trial.
This petition led to a hearing in the case in spring 2025. To prepare, students assisted with comprehensive expert witness testimony preparation; conducted a full review of trial discovery, testimony and evidence; held in-person visitations and attorney-client phone calls with Vedam; and helped with drafting significant legal filings. Additionally, the clinic traveled to the forensics laboratory at North Carolina State University to learn more about the processing and standards of forensic evidence. Through their work over several semesters and multiple student cohorts, material errors helpful to the case were discovered, briefed and submitted to the judge for review.
“Working on Subu’s case profoundly shaped both my legal education and personal development as a law student at Penn State Dickinson Law,” said Joshua Cunningham, who earned his degree earlier this year. “This experience offered a rare and invaluable opportunity to move beyond the classroom and engage directly with the complexities of the justice system in a real-world context, particularly within the framework of the PCRA.”
Informed by Balachandran and the students’ efforts, the judge ruled in August that Vedam’s 14th Amendment due process rights were violated through the suppression of key evidence, with a reasonable probability that the withheld evidence would have affected the jury’s original verdict. The judge vacated Vedam’s conviction and the district attorney declined to pursue another trial. Vedam was exonerated and released from the Huntingdon State Prison. He was then taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and his immigration case has been re-opened.
“Through hands-on involvement in case strategy, legal research and motion drafting, I deepened my understanding of criminal procedure, due process and the appellate system,” Cunningham said. “But perhaps more importantly, I learned how essential it is to approach legal work with persistence, empathy and integrity. Working on this case pushed me to develop a sharper legal mind while also reinforcing my commitment to justice and advocacy. This experience was not just an academic exercise but a steppingstone that has deeply enriched my understanding of criminal procedure and strengthened my dedication to the role of a public defender. I am eager to apply these insights in practice, confident that they will enable me to be a more effective, compassionate and resolute advocate for those who need it most.”
Shane Durepo, a current student who plans to graduate next year, echoed Cunningham.
“During my time with the clinic, I helped draft legal documents, reviewed trial testimony for inclusion in a brief filed with the court, and attended both witness preparation and the hearing itself. This work gave me invaluable hands-on experience in legal writing and deepened my understanding of how to prepare a witness and develop courtroom strategy,” Durepo said. “The case also left a lasting impact on me personally. It showed me how to remain professional, ethical and enthusiastic even in the face of profound injustice.”
Graham Ball, who graduated in 2021, credited the experience with guiding his career.
“Too often, like in Subu's case, the damage done is incalculable,” Ball said. “At both a professional and personal level, I am deeply happy Subu has been exonerated. Currently, I am a staff attorney at The Legal Aid Society, Criminal Appeals Bureau, in New York. For the last three years, I have represented New Yorkers in direct appeals and post-conviction motions in various appellate courts, including the New York Court of Appeals. Without a doubt, working on Subu's case was a major reason I chose this path.”