By Sheila McLaughlin
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A movement to free innocent inmates from Ohio prisons using DNA testing could be based at the University of Cincinnati Law School, said organizers who expect Ohio's Innocence Project to be operating in May.

A group of local defense lawyers is trying to drum up at least $150,000 in start-up money to cover the project's administrative costs, said William R. Gallagher, who is organizing the first official fund-raiser this month.

The $100-a-head public event, featuring a talk by Innocence Project co-founder Barry Scheck, will be held at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 22 in the Fountain Room at the Westin Hotel, 21 E. Fifth St., downtown.

Mr. Scheck's Innocence Project, founded in 1992, was instrumental in the release last year of two Ohio prisoners who were cleared by DNA evidence. In the last decade, similar projects have exonerated more than 110 inmates.

The tentative plan for the Ohio project is for UC law students in the Urban Justice Institute to handle the brunt of the project research by reviewing criminal cases, screening requests for help and tracking down DNA evidence, Mr. Gallagher said.

All legal work would be donated by licensed attorneys.

So far, $15,000 has been pledged - including a $10,000 promise by talk show host Jerry Springer, a former Cincinnati mayor and television anchorman, Mr. Gallagher said.

The university has not made a final decision on its commitment.

For information on the Innocence Project in Ohio or reservations for the Nov. 22 fund-raiser, call 475-0404. Tax-deductible donations also may be made to Urban Justice Institute-Innocence Project, and mailed to Innocence Project Cincinnati, University of Cincinnati, P.O. Box 210040, Cincinnati, OH 45221.

E-mail smclaughlin@enquirer.com