Just Mercy Study Guide

1983, 23, in law school

when does Bryan Stevenson meet first death row client

300,000 - 2,300,000 highest incarceration rate in the world

US prison population increase from 1970s to 2014

1/15

statistic of how many babies born in 2001 is predicted to spend time in jail

1/3

statistic of how many black males born in this century will be incarcerated

250,000 some under 12

how many children have been sent to adult prisons in the US

640

percentage increase in last 30 years of women in prison

6.9 billion to 80 billion

increase in spending on jails and prisons by state and fed government from 1980-2014

spent millions to persuade state and local governments to create new crimes, impose harsher sentences, and keep more people in prison

what have private prison builders and prison service companies done

justice

what does Stevenson say is the opposite of poverty

georgia, alabama

where is Stevenson a member of the bar

the murder of 18yo Rhonda Morrison, little evidence, police under lots of pressure

what case are police trying to solve in Monroe County, Alabama

Karen Kelly, Ralph Myers as accomplice

who is initially accused of the murder of Vickie Lynn Pittman (murdered at around same time as Rhonda Morrison)

had a relationship with her during a custody battle between Kelly and her husband

what is Mcmillian’s relationship to Kelly before the murder

claims to have witnessed Walter Mcmillian at the scene of the Morrison crime

what does Myers do to lessen his sentence to the murder of Pittman

no evidence; black man involved in adulterous interracial affair, no criminal history, good reputation

why did police target McMillian

police beat him for minor traffic violation, refused to give him his asthma inhaler, died in holding cell, other prisoners witnessed attack

how did Lourinda Ruffin die

young black teenager pulled over by Gasden police; shot and killed while reaching for license; police claim he was acting erratically

what other case did Stevenson learn of when working on the Ruffin case

largely ignored

what happened to the complaint Stevenson filed for his own police search

not for the murder of Rhonda Morrison, as DA office had not done enough research on him yet; arrested on evidence provided by Myers

why is McMillian arrested

before his case goes to trial (illegal)

when is McMillian placed on death row

to a community with a large black population to a more affluent county with a higher white population, decreases the potential of black jurors

where is McMillian’s trial moved to

his family raised enough fund to hire a team with experience in civil rights, but they are not from the local area

what are the hinderances faced by Walter’s defense team

at a family fish fry during the time of the murder, car was not a low rider at time of murder but myers said he saw the low rider truck

what is evidence in walter’s defense

murder of Rhonda Morrison, jury deliberates for less than 3 hours, sentenced to death

what is walter mcmillian found guilty of

Eva Ansley and Stevenson open nonprofit law center in Tuscaloosa; provides free legal services to men and women on death row

what is opened in 1989

nearly 20% of the prison/jail population had served in the military in 1980s, rate declined in 90s as vietnam fades, expected to rise again due to conflict in middle east

how has war impacted prison populations

he was with them at a fish fry at the time of the murder

why is family in disbelief of walter’s sentencing

contacts Stevenson and tells him that one of the eyewitnesses for walter’s case lied under oath; should help free walter but only creates a legal situation for himself

role of Darnell Houston

denied, despite Houston’s new testimony

result of motion of a retrial of mcmillians case

14yo accused of murder; upholding of death penalty for juveniles under the age of 15; Charlie shot his mom’s boyfriend after the boyfriend beat his mom unconscious; gets relocated to a different prison after telling Stevenson he is being abused by the other inmates; Mr. and Mrs. Jennings hear of this, develop relationship with Charlie, fund his college education

who is Charlie

eyewitness the sheriff paid for his testimony against walter, was released from jail immediately after making his statement condemning walter; Hooks claimed to see walter’s low rider truck at the crime scene, despite his truck not being converted to a low rider until after the crime

who is bill hooks

Myers’ claim of knowing walter before the trial proven false; walters attendance at the fish fry is confirmed; low rider incident with hooks; myers recants testimony to stevenson and oconnor

what happens after Michael Oconnor is added to the case to help stevenson

the race of the victim is the greatest predictor of who gets the death penalty in the US; offenders in georgia 11x more likely to get the death penalty if the victim is white vs if the victim was black

McClesky vs Kemp empirical evidence

receive bomb threats

what occurs after stevenson and oconnor’s Rule 32 request is approved to allow for another trial as long as new evidence is found (gets access to prosecutor’s files)

condemned to life in prison for a crime she committed between ages of 13-17; mental and physical health issues, raped by a guard

who is trina garnett

sentenced to die in prison at 13, spent 18 years in solitary confinement

who is Ian Manual

convicted of aggravated kidnapping and attempted murder of police officers at 14, sentenced to life in prison without parole despite difficult background no other significant criminal history

who is Antonio Nunez

Myers recants statement, many of walters supporters show up on first day; second day increased security and more white state supporters; third day state has no rebuttal, await judge’s ruling

what occurs in the rule 32 trial for walter

50% of ppl are diagnosed with a mental illness, 5x greater than general population

rate of mental illness in prison

3x higher in prison than in hospitals

mental illness in prison compared to hospitals

committed murder during a psychotic episode, behavior was a manifestation of his illness not a reflection of his character; stevenson able to get a retrial, jenkins removed from death row and into a facility better equipped for mental health

who is avery jenkins

court rules myers told truth in original trial despite his recantation, argued that myers was pressured to recant despite having no evidence of this

mcmillian rule 32 retrial result

stevenson continues to fight for an appeal as there was withholding of evidence

what happens after the ruling of the rule 32 retrial

had a stillborn baby and buried baby next to their home; body was exhumed and coroner declared the baby was born alive and could have been saved with proper healthcare, colbey arrested; jury found her guilty despite little evidence, sentenced to life in prison with no parole

who is Marsha Colbey

retrial under basis of unfair jury selection; DOC gave her full credit for time served, freed after 10 years of wrongful imprisonment

what happened to marsha colbey after stevensons retrial

released from prison

what happened to walter in 1993