On Christmas Eve, the Pennsylvania Superior Court issued a 54-page opinion denying Mr. Coffey’s appeal following oral argument on October 21, 2025. The Superior Court reached the same conclusion as the lower court, holding that Mr. Coffey was not prejudiced by the many serious problems that plagued his trial—including suppressed evidence and ineffective assistance of counsel.

This result is deeply disappointing. It is also legally incorrect and morally indefensible. We will continue appealing. This fight is far from over—the only thing that will end it is the liberation of Jerome Coffey.

Mr. Coffey remains steadfast. After learning of the decision he shared with us, “We continue to fight.”

As you know, Mr. Coffey has now spent 32 years incarcerated for a crime he did not commit, including 14 years in solitary confinement. His conviction was secured without a single piece of physical evidence linking him to the crime and rested instead on a witness who had recanted, a jailhouse informant, and eyewitness accounts that initially described a suspect nearly a foot shorter than Mr. Coffey. The jury never heard that critical evidence was suppressed—evidence pointing to another individual as the perpetrator and undermining the credibility of the key witness testifying against Coffey and not his acquitted co-defendant. 

This decision does not change the truth of what happened, nor does it erase the injustice Mr. Coffey has endured. The record remains one of police misconduct, suppressed evidence, and decades of systemic failures that delayed meaningful appellate review for nearly twenty years. 

Mr. Coffey’s attorney, Rupalee Rashatwar, said of the verdict “This decision is heartbreaking, but not surprising. This case demonstrates how easy it is for courts to uphold injustice, and how extraordinarily difficult it is to undo the wrongs that keep innocent people behind bars.  We will continue fighting for Hoagie at every level until he is free.”

While this outcome is painful, it strengthens our resolve to pursue every available avenue for justice and to continue shining a light on Mr. Coffey’s case. We are profoundly grateful to each of you who has stood with Mr. Coffey over the years—your support, advocacy, and belief in his innocence matter now more than ever.

“The Superior Court decision is a travesty of justice. Rather than enforce the Constitution the court distorted the facts and law beyond recognition and sided with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office in defending the indefensible,” said Bret Grote, ALC’s Legal Director. “We take our inspiration from Hoagie and are prepared for the next round. We are confident he will be free. Now more than ever we need to build his support movement.”

Thank you for continuing to stand with Hoagie as we move forward together.