Just Mercy by Brian Stevenson: Quick Book Summary and Review

Few lawyers can tell a story as well as Bryan Stevenson.  In these stories, Stevenson compels us to question the current judicial system as it relates to poor people and punishment. For example, does capital punishment mean that "those without capital get the punishment"?  And what role should mercy play in punishing those convicted of crimes?. Also, is it fair to shield those who play a role in convicting innocent people of capital crimes from civil liability?    

In Just Mercy, published by Spiegel and Grau a division of Random House, 2015, Bryan Stevenson remembers some of the men, women, and children he has represented over the years, all of them poor and many on Alabama's death row. Stevenson is a founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, a non-profit organization that represents poor people with post-conviction appeals. Stevenson represented Evan Miller in Miller v. Alabama ( 2012) 567 U.S._, 132 S. Ct. 2455.  

Interspersed with the clients' personal stories are the many ways the legal system has treated these men, women, and children unfairly. Jurors who voice actual bias and an inability to be open minded to listen and consider evidence are seated to judge a case.  An innocent, black man who has an entire room full of alibi witnesses is charged and convicted of capital murder. Lawyers conduct no investigation. Counties pay only $500 total for a ballistics expert.  People who should have been screened out from receiving the death penalty because of insanity or disability receive the death penalty. 

Each story is compelling, especially the two stories of innocent men convicted of capital murder and each story about a child who has suffered  These stories deserve to be shared, especially by those who work in the  judicial system. In particular, Walter McMillans' story is quite moving. 

In reading about how Stevenson has fought  for justice and won a string of  victories, amid bomb threats and intimidation, we are reminded of other great leaders like Nelson Mandela and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  We are also reminded that no one cared about these stories until Stevenson came along and took the time and effort to listen. 

Rating: ***** out of 5  

Copyright @ 2016 Christine Esser
  
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 I purchased this book with my own money and did not receive anything in exchange for this review by the book's author or publisher.  Comments are welcome.  Thank you.