AK Kirkpatrick

AK Kirkpatrick (they/them), is an attorney, artist, and restorative justice facilitator.  AK’s work focuses on supporting individuals to heal in the face of harm, and through the transformative power of these personal and collective liberation journeys, resist and abolish carceral systems and vision interdependent worlds of belonging and safety. At UnCommon Law, AK represents individuals serving life sentences at their parole hearings and through California’s discretionary parole process. They co-lead “Home After Harm” at California State Prison Los Angeles, a restorative justice and legal program supporting community-wide healing on B-Yard (level 4), the highest security yard without common access to rehabilitative programming. AK previously served as a public defender in Los Angeles County, representing hundreds of people in state criminal proceedings and jury trials. Their focus on restorative practice resulted in more than 50 open criminal cases dismissed through mental health diversion. Since 2022, AK has facilitated a trauma healing and restorative justice circle for incarcerated women with ReEvolution at CIW prison. They are also a facilitator with California Conference for Equality and Justice. AK is blessed with a wide web of loved ones and chosen family. They are queer, enjoy communing with trees, hiking mountains, dancing, writing poetry, surfing, organizing for justice, and breaking the matrix.