lamar johnson will be the first. >> we spoke with circuit attorney gardner, who says you will be the first case she'll bring under that new mechanism >> i didn't know that. >> what do you think of that? >> it's a relief i mean, i'm grateful i'm trying to keep from crying. >> this is emotional for you. why? >> we're talking about my life. it was wrongfully taken from me. i don't know how to explain trying to be heard, just constantly appealing to people, and they're just shutting the door in your face. >> what does life look like on the other side of these doors >> i've never seen the ocean, never been in a plane. i want to hug my mother more important to me than anything is just being able to bond and be with my family again. so my mother can rest knowing that i didn't have to spend the rest of my life in prison for something i didn't do >> reporter: hallie jackson, nbc news, jefferson city, missouri >>> up next for us tonight, back to school anxiety what families need to know >>> as children return to the classroom for in-person learning, covid is adding a new twist. kristen dahlgre

do you believe there's a chance that lamar johnson is innocent? and see what's filed. >> i can't give you a deadline or time limit on when i'll file but we will file under this new law. >> will lamar johnson be the first? >> he will be the first. >> she said you'll be the first case she'll bring under that new mechanism. >> i didn't know that. it's a relief. i'm grateful. i'm trying to keep from crying. >> this is emotional for you. why? >> we're talking about my life that was wrongfully taken from me. i don't know how to explain trying to be heard appealing to people constantly and they just shut the door in your face. >> what does that life look like on the other side of these doors? >> i have never seen the ocean, never been in a plane. more important than anything is being able to bond and be with my family again. so my mother can rest knowing i didn't have to spend my life in prison for something i didn't do. >> that new law goes into effect at the end of the month. we'll stay on top of the story and bring you updates as they develop. >>> com

jumping in and doing this, disregarding innocent man in prison and another high profile case in lamar johnson, ignoring these individuals and moving to mccloskeys is pure politics. one has to question if it's an endorsement from the governor himself. >> that's the next question i was going to ask, has the governor weighed in on the fact that man he pardoned is running based on this whacky fame that he's -- he got from pointing a gun at protesters. >> he hasn't said anything specifically about endorsement, but during governor parsons' own campaign he said he planned to pardon them as soon as he was elected again. lot of folks in state of missouri think this is endorsement, he supports these folks and believes they're more important than the innocent individuals incarcerated. >> what does justice for strickland look like right now? >> i don't know we can quantify that. this man has been in prison over 40 years in our state without dna evidence there's not financial benefit he could receive. i believe just let the man live his life. everyone says he shouldn't be in prison. and talking about tryi

. >> reporter: it frustrates advocates for others in state pleading innocence like lamar johnson whohow long over procedural matters. >> reporter: he was sentenced the life without the possibility of parole in 1995 for murder. since his conviction, two others came forward admitting in sworn affidavits to the killing and said johnson wasn't involved. the lone eyewitness said he agreed to testify after police and prosecutesers offered to help him financially according to a report for current circuit attorney. >> it's our duty under the constitution, under the ethics of a presosecutor, a duty we swr to to make sure we right the wrongs. >> reporter: the original district attorney denied the claim and called the report a one sided hatchet job. the missouri supreme court denied appeal for johnson. there was kevin strickland convicted of triple murder over 40 years ago and now they say he's innocent citing a sole witness was mistaken in her identification and informed multiple parties and corroborated by three of the known culprits who each have stated consistently over four decades that st

johnson is the president of the naacp. coming up, republican lawmakers are asking the governor in tennessee to take action to ban mask requirements of the objections of health experts. london lamarntative, heard the news as she was grieving a friend and staff member who just died of covid. she will join me next. n me next. because with the right pain reliever... life opens up. aleve it, and see what's possible. ♪all by yourself.♪ you look a little lost. i can't find my hotel. oh. oh! ♪♪ this is not normal. no. ♪♪ so? ♪♪ right? go with us and find millions of flexible options, all in our app. expedia. it matters who you travel with. (customer) hi? (burke)pedia. happy anniversary. (customer) for what? (burke) every year you're with us, you get fifty dollars toward your home deductible. it's a policy perk for being a farmers customer. (customer) do i have to do anything? (burke) nothing. (customer) nothing? (burke) nothing. (customer) nothing? (burke) nothing. (customer) hmm, that is really something. (burke) you get a whole lot of something with farmers policy perks. see ya. (kid) may i have a balloon, too? (burke) sure. your parents have maintained a farmers home policy for twelv