On Thursday at 10 a.m., the Oklahoma State Capitol will host ceremonies for Wrongful Conviction Day on the south plaza. The event will feature speakers including Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, and Emily Barnes, founder of the Oklahoma City advocacy group Hooked on Justice. The day’s activities aim to shed light on the stories of individuals who have been wrongfully convicted and raise awareness about justice system reforms.
According to an announcement from the Oklahoma House of Representatives, the lineup also includes J'Shawna Smith of the Julius Jones Institute and Antoinette Jones—Julius himself, despite clemency granted by Gov. Kevin Stitt in 2021, is still behind bars with a life-without-parole sentence for murder, though he and his advocates maintain his innocence. Former Sen. Connie Johnson will share the platform with Perry Lott, a man who knows the weight of wrongful conviction, having been cleared just two years ago after serving 30 long years of a 350-year sentence.
Attorney and legal advisor Brenda Golden is poised to speak on behalf of Winston Walters, another individual involved in a conviction dispute. Stephanie Davis will represent her husband, Jeffrey Davis, who supporters claim was wrongfully convicted.
The event will include a performance by Jake Chappell on a Native American drum. Deon Devon Osborne, host of the podcast In Depth with Deon, will serve as master of ceremonies, guiding attendees through the day’s program.
