
Introduction:
Just Mercy is a memoir by Bryan Stevenson and was published in 2014. The novel discusses about the injustice in the American judicial system and the author’s journey through those hardships. It was also made into a movie in 2019. The memoir is known for outstanding detailed experiences of American laws and systems and is famous among law students.
Summary: Lawyer Bryan Stevenson wrote about his years of helping people, impoverished and minority individuals, who were mistreated by the U.S. justice system. The main story is about Walter McMillian, a Black man wrongly convicted of murder. Stevenson also shares his thoughts on racial discrimination incarceration and stories of others he’s assisted through his nonprofit law group, the Equal Justice Initiative, which became a major force for criminal justice reform. As a law student, Bryan Stevenson discovered his life’s work helping prisoners, especially those on death row who couldn’t afford lawyers. After graduating, he took a job representing poor prisoners in Alabama. One of Stevenson’s clients was Walter McMillian, a successful Black businessman who was wrongly accused of murder after having an affair with a white woman. Despite lacking evidence, the police and prosecutors forced false witness testimony to convict Walter and send him to death row. Stevenson’s team investigated the cases after failing to overturn Walter McMillian’s wrongful conviction. They found evidence that witnesses had been coerced and paid to lie about Walter. A key witness, Ralph, later admitted he had falsely accused Walter under threat from the police. Stevenson continued appealing the case, and an outside investigation eventually proved Walter’s innocence. Six weeks later, the court threw out Walter’s conviction, and he was released from prison. Stevenson and Walter became close friends after helping free Walter McMillian from prison. Stevenson supported Walter after his release and helped him share his story. Stevenson’s work also focused on other vulnerable prisoners, like those with mental illness or who were juveniles tried as adults. Stevenson’s team at the Equal Justice Initiative fought to change laws to better protect these groups, including winning Supreme Court rulings. Stevenson’s experiences seeing prisoners face execution made him realize how inhumane the death penalty is. After a setback, he recommitted himself to his work, recognizing his brokenness allowed him to have more compassion for others.
Analysis:
The memoir is about starting a legal career fighting unfairness in the justice system. The author learns from his grandmother to connect with people, which helps him explain issues like mass incarceration. After almost getting shot, he feels connected to the mistreatment, inspiring him to open an office to help people. Stevenson’s story is tied to Walter McMillian’s, showing how circumstances beyond their control lead to very different lives for two Black men. Stevenson gets frustrated with the racism and unfairness in the justice system, as seen in McMillian’s case. Despite evidence of innocence, McMillian is wrongly convicted due to corruption and bias at every step – from the sheriff to the judge. Stevenson shares other clients’ stories, revealing how the system mistreats isolated people. While Stevenson overturns McMillian’s conviction, he’s devastated when McMillian dies and he fails to save another client from execution. This low point makes Stevenson realize that acknowledging our brokenness is key to having empathy and mercy.
Conclusion:
Just Mercy is a memoir by Bryan Stevenson and was published in 2014. The memoir talks about the injustice and unrighteousness in the American justice system. It also shows Bryan Stevenson’s experiences in the troubles of working in the U.S. justice system. The dreadful experiences that Stevenson went through helped him realize that knowing how broken each person is is a way to have emp
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