The former Black Panther, who maintained his innocence, was placed in solitary confinement immediately after Miller’s body was found in a prison dormitory. The federal courts later threw out two earlier convictions against Woodfox, citing one of the reasons as racial bias in selecting a grand jury foreman.
While Woodfox was being held at the West Feliciana Parish Detention Center, awaiting a third trial regarding Miller’s death, federal Judge James Brady intervened in 2015 and barred the trial. The judge said the trial is barred because of Woodfox’s failing health and because the state couldn’t conduct a fair trial.
At age 69 in 2016, Woodfox pleaded no contest to manslaughter and aggravated burglary. A judge then ordered his immediate release.
Attorney General Jeff Landry issued a statement at the time, saying that “the Federal District Court has signaled its intention to force Albert Woodfox’s release without any admission of guilt.”
“In the best interest of justice and with the recognition of 42 years of hard labor served, we achieved a conviction waving his right to appeal,” Landry said, according to CBS News. “Today’s plea brings closure to the family of Brent Miller, justice for the people of Louisiana, and finality to this decades-long prosecution.”