Innocence Project Honors Kansas City Attorney O'Brien

The UMKC law professor was recognized for his decades of work representing clients in wrongful conviction cases.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Criminal Justice

Bold flat-color editorial illustration depicting a neoclassical courthouse column, representing the gravity and permanence of the legal justice system. — The Innocence Project honored UMKC law professor Sean O'Brien in August 2026 for his four decades of wrongful conviction defense work. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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In August 2026, The Innocence Project presented Sean O'Brien with the Award for Freedom and Justice. O'Brien is a professor at the UMKC School of Law and a former chief public defender for Jackson County.

Why it matters

O'Brien has dedicated over four decades to representing clients facing death sentences and those who have been wrongfully convicted. His career includes leading the Missouri Capital Punishment Resource Center and his work in the exoneration of Sandra Hemme.

Sean O'Brien represented Sandra Hemme, who spent 43 years in prison. His career also spans the execution of Ricky Grubbs, who was put to death on October 19, 1992.

The players

Sean O'Brien

He is a UMKC School of Law professor and former chief public defender for Jackson County who has focused his career on death penalty and wrongful conviction cases.

The Innocence Project

This national organization works to exonerate the wrongly convicted through DNA testing and reforms to the criminal justice system.

Sandra Hemme

She was an individual who spent 43 years in prison before being represented by Sean O'Brien.

Ricky Grubbs

He was a death row inmate who was executed by the state in 1992.

The details

O'Brien has spent more than 40 years working to provide legal representation for individuals facing capital punishment or those wrongfully convicted. He transitioned to a full-time role at the UMKC School of Law in 2005 after serving as a public defender.

1980: Sean O'Brien graduated from UMKC School of Law.
October 19, 1992: Ricky Grubbs was executed.
2005: O'Brien joined the UMKC School of Law faculty.
August 2026: O'Brien received the Award for Freedom and Justice.

Legal Context

The execution of Ricky Grubbs in 1992 serves as a historical marker for the era of capital punishment reform in Missouri. This award highlights the ongoing efforts of legal professionals to address the systemic flaws in criminal justice cases.

The recognition of O'Brien's career draws public attention to the resources available for those dealing with wrongful convictions in Kansas City. It underscores the critical role that public defenders and legal experts play in the fairness of the local court system.

The takeaway

Advocacy for the wrongfully convicted remains a long-term commitment that often spans several decades of legal practice. Professionals in this field rely on established precedents to challenge past convictions and seek justice for those who have spent years behind bars.