Kenneth Lawson is Faculty Specialist, Co-Director of the Hawaii Innocence Project, and Director of the Beyond Innocence Hawaii Clinic at the William S. Richardson Law School. His teaching areas include Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Trial Practice, and Professional Responsibility. During his 18 years legal career in Cincinnati, Ken served as lead counsel in more than a hundred criminal trials, including numerous murder and capital cases. He also litigated many civil rights and police misconduct cases in both federal and state courts and had an active appellate practice. His clientele included high-profile individuals, such as Deion Sanders, but one in four of his cases were pro bono. Eventually he became addicted to prescription painkillers and his license to practice law was revoked following his guilty plea to the felony of obtaining controlled substances by fraudulent means. He completed a 2-year prison sentence 14 years ago. Ken frequently gives motivational talks to athletic teams, such as the Rainbow Warriors football team and Wahine Volleyball team. The law school’s classes of 2014 and 2018 selected Ken to deliver their graduation address, and Ken received the Board of Regents' Excellence in Teaching Award in 2017.

Faculty Member’s Sessions