A Texas man spent 31 years behind bars until a judge recently came around and determined he did not belong there.

The man was initially locked up after being convicted of sexual assault of a stranger in 1981, remaining there until just recently. A judge weighed new evidence that was suppressed by prosecutors, which essentially proved that the conviction was a farce.

The evidence that did put the man behind bars decades ago came when the victim selected his picture in a photo lineup.

The man's attorney highlighted the live line-up, which police conducted but did not record. In the lineup, the victim did not identify the man as her attacker. The man's attorneys also argued that the prosecution and police hid evidence that showed the man did not fit the victim's description of her attacker. She pegged her attacked to be significantly taller and heavier.

The man's lawyers argued that prosecutors did not play by the rules back then, and the judge agreed. The judge released the man from prison, but he has not yet been officially exonerated - found innocent of his crimes. There is still a chance that he will be exonerated in the case. If found innocent, the man will be in line for compensation and a special package of benefits given to exonerated individuals. His legal team continues to dig up new evidence to reach that goal.

The man was expectedly overjoyed and said he knew this day would eventually come.

A number of exonerated prisoners were on hand at the hearing, many of which spent time in prison with the man. The group of unfairly jailed individuals have formed a close pact, and they meet together monthly.

It is unfortunate that our criminal justice system sometimes makes these types of mistakes, but it goes to show the great importance of the work of defense attorneys.

Source: Dallas Observor, "After 31 Years Locked Up, Ricky Dale Wyatt is Free But Not Quite Exonerated," Leslie Minora, January 4, 2012.