The Hawaii Innocence Project, like all innocence projects around the country, is a non-profit

dedicated to freeing people they believe were wrongly convicted, often by finding exculpatory DNA

evidence. Ken Lawson was hired as a clerk of sorts by the co-director at the time, Randy Roth, in 2010,

and over the years, he rose to the ranks to become an associate director and now co-director

of the Hawaii Innocence Project.

But Ken began practicing law long before then, starting out in 1989 in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he also opened up his

own law firm in 1993. His firm handled many high-profile clients throughout 1993 to 2007,

like now University of Colorado Boulder football coach, Dion Sanders.

But what's unique here is that Ken relates to many of his clients now in a way very few lawyers do.

He had a successful practice until his license was revoked because of misconduct while addicted to prescription painkillers.

He pleaded guilty to the felony of obtaining controlled substances by fraudulent means

and was sentenced to 24 months in prison, which he served 10 of before heading to a

living sober facility in Hawaii for six months, followed by 12 months of supervisory release.

Like when I came out, I was on parole, and so they provided services for me.

You know, even though I had practiced law and out of the other shit, man, they still was like,

okay, here's how you get a bus pass, here's how you get a security card. Here's a list of jobs you'd apply to.

If you need to go to counseling, here's your counseling.

When you're innocent, they just cut you loose, right?

Hey, we're happy for you.

Goodbye.

Now the bus, you know, so you leave, your little bus fare.

You know what I mean?

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