Sen. Dick Sears, D-Bennington has given members of the Senate Judiciary Committee two weeks to read "The Innocent Man," John Grisham's latest book.

Lawmakers are accustomed to lugging home stacks of documents to read, but Judiciary Committee members looked surprised Wednesday when Sears handed out hardcover books -- and an assignment.

He explained he thinks the book would give the committee background on a bill they will consider in two weeks. It would set up procedures for convicted offenders to follow to try to prove their innocence using DNA evidence that might have been collected in their cases.

"The Innocent Man" is Grisham's first nonfiction book and came out in the fall. The book tells the story of Ron Williamson, who was convicted of a murder he didn't commit.

"Once you read it," Sears said, "you say this couldn't happen in America, but it did."

Sears plans to schedule testimony from representatives of The Innocence Project, a non-profit legal clinic set up in 1992 to assist offenders in cases where DNA evidence could be used to prove innocence or guilt. To read more about The Innocence Project, check this link.

--Nancy Remsen