You might remember the Genarlow Wilson case, memorable detailed by Wright Thompson on ESPN.com back in January. The case involved Wilson, a high school football star and honors student, who was sentenced to 10 years in jail for having consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old when he was 17. Well, great news this morning: He is being released from prison.
Georgia's Supreme Court on Friday ordered the release of a young man who has been imprisoned for more than two years for having consensual oral sex with another teenager. The court ruled 4-3 that Genarlow Wilson's 10-year sentence was cruel and unusual punishment.
We're still pretty amazed that the decision was 4-3, but whichever: A wrong has been made right, albeit a bit late. And Thompson's story — and ESPN promotional blitz that followed it — surely had an effect. Sometimes, power is used effectively and justly. Sometimes.
Genarlow Free [We Suck At Sports]
Outrageous Injustice [ESPN]