Isaac Wright Jr. facts for kids

Isaac Wright Jr. (born January 23, 1962) is an American lawyer and businessman. He is famous for an incredible real-life story. In 1991, he was wrongly accused of serious crimes and sentenced to life in prison.

While in prison, he studied the law and learned how to be his own lawyer. He proved his innocence and was released. His amazing journey inspired the ABC television series For Life. He also ran for mayor of New York City.

Early Life and Career

Isaac Wright Jr. was born on January 23, 1962, in Orlando, Florida. His father was in the military, so his family moved around a lot. He went to high school in Moncks Corner, South Carolina.

In the 1980s, he lived in New York City. He was part of a dance group called Uptown Express that appeared on the TV show Star Search. He also started his own record label. His wife, Sunshine, was a singer in a popular group he helped create called The Cover Girls.

A Shocking Turn of Events

Wrongfully Sent to Prison

In 1989, Wright's life changed suddenly. He was arrested and wrongly accused of leading a major crime ring in the New York and New Jersey area. In 1991, after a trial, he was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

But Wright knew he was innocent and refused to give up. While in prison, he decided to study law. He acted as his own lawyer from his prison cell. He read law books and learned how to argue his case.

Fighting for Freedom

Wright discovered a problem with the way the law was applied in his case. He wrote a legal argument that was so good it helped change the law in New Jersey. He then used this new understanding of the law to get his own life sentence overturned in 1996. Even with this victory, he still faced over 70 years in prison for other false charges.

Wright kept fighting. He asked for another hearing, claiming that the police and the prosecutor in his case had not followed the rules. During this hearing in 1996, Wright questioned a police detective named James Dugan. The detective admitted that there had been misconduct by the police during the investigation.

This confession revealed a much bigger problem. The head prosecutor, Nicholas L. Bissell Jr., had told police officers to write false reports. He also made secret deals to get people to lie in court and say Wright was their boss. Because of these unfair and illegal actions, Wright's case was completely thrown out. After spending more than seven years in prison for crimes he did not commit, he was finally set free.

A New Career in Law

After being released, Isaac Wright Jr. decided to become a lawyer to help others. He went to college and graduated from Thomas Edison State University in 2002. Then, he went to law school at St. Thomas University School of Law and graduated in 2007.

It took nine more years of review by the New Jersey Bar, but in 2017, he was officially allowed to practice law. The same court system that had once sentenced him to life in prison now gave him a license to be a lawyer. He is the only person in U.S. history to be sentenced to life, prove his own innocence, and then become a lawyer.

His life story inspired the TV show For Life, which was produced by the entertainer 50 Cent. In 2022, Wright also wrote a book about his experiences called Marked for Life: One Man's Fight for Justice from the Inside.

Politics

In December 2020, Isaac Wright Jr. announced he would run for mayor of New York City. He entered the race as a member of the Democratic Party, hoping to bring his unique life experience to public service.