Kim Kardashian‘s involvement in criminal justice advocacy has made her a figure of interest in high-profile legal cases over the years. In newly surfaced jailhouse calls, Mackenzie Shirilla, who was convicted of murder and was the subject of the Netflix documentary “The Crash,” expressed her desire to have the aspiring lawyer take on her case.
Kardashian began her advocacy sometime in 2017 and has successfully helped in freeing several non-violent and first-time offenders who were given harsh sentences.
In 2022, Mackenzie Shirilla was charged with the murder of her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and their friend, Davion Flanagan. Shirilla was behind the wheel, driving at 100 mph, when she drove directly into a brick building, killing the two passengers. Her case is the focus of the Netflix documentary “The Crash,” released on May 15.
PEOPLE obtained an undated jailhouse call between Shirilla and an unnamed individual, in which they were discussing the possibility of Kim Kardashian hearing about her high-profile case. “Well, maybe Kim Kardashian’s seen,” Shirilla said. The individual agreed, saying that Kardashian knowing Shirilla’s case is the only good thing about the media circus.
“You have to figure out because I’m real nervous and I want Kim Kardashian to be my lawyer,” Shirilla stated, later adding, “Tell her I buy all her SKIMS and I only wear SKIMS.”
The Reality Star Doesn’t Want Anything To Do With The Case
Kardashian is an aspiring lawyer, but she has yet to pass the California Bar Exam. She has helped free several inmates through her advocacy work, but according to a report from TMZ, she isn’t interested in Shirilla’s case.
A source close to the reality star said that Kardashian lends her support to inmates who have shown that they have been rehabilitated, and also those who she believes were wrongfully convicted or have been given excessive sentences and deserve a second chance. Shirilla’s case, per the insider, doesn’t align with her advocacy.
Mackenzie Shirilla Was Convicted Of Murder
In 2022, 17-year-old Shirilla was with 20-year-old Russo and 19-year-old Flanagan, driving home from a graduation party they attended. As seen in video footage, Shirilla suddenly accelerated after turning down a road, driving directly into a brick building. Both Russo and Flanagan were killed in an instant, and Shirilla was left with grave injuries.
Prosecutors in the case argued the teen intentionally crashed the car, citing her failing relationship with Russo. Shirilla’s defense argued that she had POTS, a condition that causes rapid heart rate spikes and brief blackouts. However, the evidence showed the teen’s foot was pressed on the accelerator seconds before the impact.
At a bench trial, a judge found Shirilla guilty of 12 felony counts, including murder, felonious assault, and aggravated vehicular homicide. She was sentenced to two concurrent life sentences with the possibility of parole after 15 years. Her legal team is actively fighting her conviction.
Kim Kardashian’s Criminal Justice Advocacy
Alice Marie Johnson, in a desperate attempt to provide for her family, got involved in a drug trafficking organization as a mule, relaying messages between sellers and distributors. She was convicted of drug conspiracy and money laundering in 1996 and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Kardashian got legal representation to take over Johnson’s case and personally lobbied for the inmate’s clemency. Johnson was released from prison in 2018 and was later granted a full pardon.
By 2019, Fox reported that the businesswoman had helped free 17 inmates from prison through her advocacy efforts, funding projects and supporting campaigns quietly.
“Once I saw that I was able to make a difference, I couldn’t stop there, and I realized there were so many other people to help,” Kardashian said at a TIME 100 Summit in 2023.
The SKIMS Mogul’s Law Journey
In 2018, Kardashian began her journey into law by becoming a legal apprentice under California’s Law Office Study Program. The reality star passed the “Baby Bar,” the first-year law students’ examination, in 2021 after her fourth attempt.
Kardashian completed her law apprenticeship in 2025 and subsequently took the California Bar Exam, but she didn’t receive a passing score. The exam is notoriously difficult, having one of the lowest pass rates in the country.
As The Blast previously reported, Kardashian will not be taking the California Bar Exam in 2026. She will instead focus on her professional commitments and try again next year.
