The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing a civil rights case involving the estate of Olin "Pete" Coones, a Kansas man who was wrongfully convicted of murder and spent 12 years in prison before being exonerated. The case, *Coones v. Board of County Commissioners of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas*, centers on allegations against county officials following Coones's wrongful imprisonment.
In 2009, Coones was convicted of murdering Kathleen Schroll and acquitted of murdering her husband, Carl Schroll. After serving 12 years in prison, Coones was exonerated based on evidence that Kathleen had killed both herself and her husband, framing Coones for their deaths. Tragically, Coones died shortly after his release from prison.
Deirdre Coones, Coones's widow and executor of his estate, filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas in 2022. The case names multiple defendants, including the Board of County Commissioners of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, the Unified Government itself, and four individual officials: William Michael, Angela Garrison, Bryan Block, and Susan Brown.
The district court apparently ruled in favor of the estate, prompting the county defendants to appeal to the Tenth Circuit. The appellate case, numbered 24-3147, was filed on Jan. 21, 2026, and will be heard by a three-judge panel consisting of Circuit Judges Tymkovich, Phillips, and McHugh, with Judge McHugh authoring the court's opinion.
The case represents a significant civil rights matter involving allegations of constitutional violations in the criminal justice process that led to Coones's wrongful conviction. While the specific claims are not detailed in the available court documents, wrongful conviction cases typically involve allegations under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983, which allows individuals to sue state and local officials for violations of federal constitutional rights.
Such cases often center on claims of prosecutorial misconduct, police misconduct, denial of due process, or other violations that contributed to the wrongful conviction. The fact that Coones was later exonerated based on evidence showing the actual victim had committed the crimes and framed him suggests potential issues with the original investigation or prosecution.
The estate is represented by Russell Ainsworth of Loevy & Loevy, a Chicago-based firm known for handling civil rights and wrongful conviction cases. The firm has represented numerous clients in high-profile police misconduct and wrongful conviction matters across the country.
Defending the county and individual officials are attorneys David R. Cooper and Charles E. Branson from Fisher, Patterson, Sayler & Smith, LLP, based in Topeka, Kansas. The law firm regularly represents government entities and officials in civil rights litigation.
The case highlights the ongoing legal consequences that can follow wrongful convictions, even after exoneration. While Coones was vindicated and released from prison, his death shortly after release meant he could not personally pursue justice for the years of imprisonment he endured. However, federal civil rights law allows estates to continue such claims, enabling families to seek accountability and damages for constitutional violations.
Wrongful conviction cases have gained increased attention in recent years as DNA evidence and other investigative techniques have led to hundreds of exonerations nationwide. These cases often reveal systemic problems in the criminal justice system and can result in significant monetary awards to compensate for the profound injustice of wrongful imprisonment.
The Tenth Circuit's review will determine whether the district court properly applied federal civil rights law to the facts of Coones's case. The court will examine whether the defendants' actions violated Coones's constitutional rights and whether they are entitled to qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that protects government officials from liability in certain circumstances.
The outcome could have broader implications for how courts handle civil rights claims arising from wrongful convictions, particularly in cases where the wrongfully convicted individual dies before resolution of their claims. The case also raises questions about the liability of county governments and individual officials when criminal justice processes fail so dramatically.
Given that the Tenth Circuit has designated this case for publication, the court's eventual ruling will become binding precedent for future cases in the circuit, which includes Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming. This suggests the court views the legal issues presented as having significance beyond the immediate parties involved.
The case is expected to be argued before the three-judge panel in the coming months, with a decision likely to follow within several months of oral arguments. The ruling will determine whether the estate can proceed with its civil rights claims against the Wyandotte County officials or whether the defendants will prevail on appeal.