Introduction: Higher Ground

• After realizing that philosophy would not be a profitable career, Bryan Stevenson found himself studying at Harvard Law. He felt very isolated from his peers who were competitive and disconnected from the real issues occurring in court such fairness/ morality. Bryan signed up for an internship in Georgia, working for SPDC (director Steve Bright) which specialized in finding lawyers for those on death row. Bryan Stevenson was sent to visit a client who hasn’t been assigned a lawyer yet, Henry, and inform him that he will have at least a year before an execution date is assigned. After meeting with Henry, seeing the unfair treatment despite the warmth he met Bryan with, Bryan became committed to helping those on death row. As he continued his studies he was faced with the question of why people were judged unfairly, epically coming from an African American family who had a history of dealing with racism.

• The purpose of Just Mercy is to shed light on how extreme punishment in America can be and the injustice in the legal system. The USA, has some of the harshest punishments for breaking the law and offers very little chance at redemption. There is an abuse in power and allowance for biases when deciding a persons fate. After finishing schooling and moving to the Deep South, Bryan Stevenson was giving the case of Walter McMillian (which will be primarily the case this book is about). Bryan believes our character is measured by how we treat the condemned and that everyone needs a little bit of mercy, justice, or grace.

Chapter 1: Mockingbird Players

• Bryan Stevenson after opening a nonprofit law firm for death row in 1988, took on the case of Walter McMillian who was from Monroeville, Alabama. He was repeatedly told to just drop the case, but decided against it. As he met with Walter, Walter continued to claim his innocence.

• Walter was a black man coming from a small settlement. When older, he started his own pulp company and started a family. He stayed out of trouble and had a good reputation for an African American man in Alabama until his affair with white married woman, Karen Kelly, became public. Interracial couples were not welcomed snd lynchings were common, thus this public ordeal ruined both parties reputations. As Karen’s husband got custody of the children, she began getting involved with drugs and dealings with her new friend Ralph Myers. Ralph was a man who needed attention, traumatized from his experiences being a burn victim in the foster system. Around this time, Ronda Morrison (white/18) was found killed in Monroeville in addition to Vickie Pittman from the next county over. Ralph lied about what he knew of Vickie’s murder several times to the ABI, eventually causing suspicion of himself. The final story he settled on, was that he, Karen, and Walter were behind Vickie’s death. In addition, Ralph also claimed Walter murdered Ronda, despite Ralph and Walter not having ever met. The ABI quickly determined this fact, but the Monroe County Sherrif Tom Tate needed to arrest someone for Ronda’s murder.

Chapter 2: Stand

• Bryan had recently moved in with his former classmate, Charles Bliss, in an apartment in Atlanta. After coming home late from work one night, bryan decided to stay an extra few minutes in his car to listen to music when Atlanta SWAT cars came down the street towards Bryce’s parked car. When he tried to get out and go into his apartment, one of the officers pulled a gun out and demanded Bryan did not move anymore. The officers forced Bryan against his car to illegally search him and his car, committing several offenses. After finding Bryan innocent despite the aggressive treatment, they told him there was a suspected burglary call by one of Bryan neighbors despite Bryan having lived there for a few weeks now. Frightened by his experience, he wrote complains to the Atlanta Police department about the mistreatment, but his letters were all disregarded.

• Concerned for what others would try and do in that situation, having run would’ve caused them to get shot, Bryan Stevenson began speaking out at youth groups, community organizations, and churches; advocating that the police is held accountability for their conduct. At one church meeting, Bryan was greeted by an older activist who encouraged him to “keep beating the drum for justice”.

  Chapter 3: Trials and Tribulation

• Walter could not be arrested for the murder of Ronda yet, but when Ralph Myers added more the lie and claimed Walter had sexually assaulted him, Walter was arrest initially on charge for sodomy. Despite Walter having company over and his truck getting fixed the day of the murder, alongside Ralph’s story, Sherrif Tate paid Bill Hooks to lie about seeing Walter’s truck at the crime scene. Both Ralph and Walter were sent to death row, but Ralph couldn’t handle the stress of being confined and promised Tate to lie in court. The court hearing was originally scheduled for Feb 1988, but was postponed after Walter’s lawyers (Chestnut and Boynton) requested to change the location of the pretrial in hopes of it being moved to a primarily black county so that they would get black jurors. Instead, it was moved to Baldwin County (only a 9% black pop) and postponed to August. Walter was found guilty after the prosecutor brought in Ralph, Bill Hooks, and other witnessss to lie against Walter. Meanwhile, Walter’s lawyers only brought in 3 witnesses, giving him a weak defense.

Chapter 4: The Old Rugged Cross

• After struggling to open their new firm in Alabama, Bryan Stevenson alongside his partner, Eva Ansley, managed to do so without finding other lawyers to employ. During the period of setting up the firm, Bryan witnessed 3 cases, each representing controversies in the justice system. The first defendant was Michael Lindsay, a case where the jury decided on a life sentence instead of the death penalty, but the judge overruled the decision. At the time of writing the book, Alabama and Florida were the only states that allowed a judge to do so, meaning that if it were a different state, then Michael would still be alive. The second case was that of Horace Dunkins, who suffered from an intellectual disability. While it may now be considered unconstitutional to give the death penalty to those with intellectual disabilities because it is seen as cruel punishment, in the 80’s it was permitted. This is an example of how timing could determine a person’s life. Lastly, the most complex of the three cases, is Herbert Richardson. Herbert was a veteran who suffered from severe PTSD and developed an obsession for a nurse he dated. After the nurse discovered his possessiveness, she left him, so Herbert reasoned that if he could prove that he could protect her, then she would come back to him. Despite seeming illogical, Herbert’s misguided judgement from his intense feelings and trauma caused him to reason that if he built a bomb to detonate on the nurse’s porch, then he could rush in and save her. Unfortunately, the bomb accidentally took the life of 10-year-old, Rena Mae Collins. Herbert was charged for capital murder even though it was reckless murder under the care of an attorney who did not care for the case. By the time Bryan Stevenson began representing Herbert 11 years later, all the hard work Bryan put in to trying to save Herbert from the death penalty was pointless. Herbert’s execution was the first Stevenson has ever witnessed, causing him to question how society can justify that it is ok to kill killers, but not rape rapists or assault assaulters.

Chapter 5: Of the Coming of John

As Bryan Stevenson begun meeting more frequently with Walter McMillian and his family, the attorney was greeted by a welcoming community full of hope that Bryan could prove Walter’s innocence. While Stevenson and his client became quite close, Stevenson had witnesses reaching out to him willing to provide support or information on the case. Of one of the people to reach out to him, there was Darnell Houston. While Houston may have not personally known Walter, he was working with Bill Hooks, one of the primary testimonies against Walter in court, the entire day of the crime. Since Bill Hooks claimed he drove by and saw Myers and McMillian at the crime scene, but in reality he was with Darnell, this had the potential to prove Walter’s innocence. Bryan Stevenson filed Houston’s claims, but was quickly met with a charge on Darnell Houston for perjury. Outraged, Bryan visited the district attorney, Tom Chapman, who was responsible for the charge against Houston. After Chapman made it very clear to Stevenson that proving Walter’s innocence would not be easy, he said he would drop the charge on Houston, but their attempts would not be heard in court. Stevenson left this meeting with a new understanding on the prosecutor’s approach to keeping Walter on death row- intimidation. They would be charging or arresting anyone who could prove a threat by providing a testimony that would defend Walter.

Chapter 6: Surely Doomed

Bryan Stevenson receives a call one day by an old woman, pleading that he goes and checks on her 14 year-old-grandson in jail. Usually this wouldn’t be the type of situation Stevenson deals with, but after hearing the desperation in her voice he agrees to visit her grandson, Charlie. After looking at the case report, Stevenson learns that Charlie lived with his mother and her abusive boyfriend, George. One day, George came home and punched the mom so hard that she fell to the floor and stopped breathing, shortly followed by this nap. The boy knew he should’ve called the ambulance, but under the impression his mother was dead (she wasn’t), he snuck into George’s drawer, stealing a gun. Instinctively, Charlie killed George in his sleep, causing him to be charged for capital murder. When Bryan visited the teen, he’s met with a boy in shock, refusing to speak. Charlie eventually admits that he was raped by the men at the prison, leading Bryan to petition for the kid to be moved to Juvey. The lawyer went on to tell Charlie’s story, peaking the interest of elder couple, the Jennings. The two began writing letters to Charlie and soon visited him. When Charlie was released at 18, he was met by his mother and his new family, the Jennings.

Chapter 7: Justice Denied

With the assistance of newly hired Michael O’Connor, the two lawyers begin digging for new evidence on Walter McMillian’s case. Amongst their findings are records of Bill Hooks being paid off and his release from jail, the owner of the shop where the body was admitting Myer’s had never met Walter, and an old poster advertising Walter’s fish fry he had that fateful day. Surprisingly, Ralph Myers reached out to Stevenson and the two arranged a meet up at Myers’ prison. While meeting, Ralph admits that he lied about everything and that he wouldn’t to make it right because the pain from the damage he’s done has caught up to him. In addition, he claimed he was the one pressured to murder Vickie Pittman by an officer and Karen Kelly was involved because of how close the two were. Before the attorney leaves, Ralph gives him one final warning of the death threats that will soon come. Spooked by the criminal’s words, Bryan and Connor then visit Karen Kelly who backs up everything that Ralph had told them, also requesting they make sure Walter knows she still cares for him. Then third on their agenda, the two visit the aunts if Vickie Pittman, Mozelle and Onzelle, who inform Stevenson that they believe that Vickie’s father was behind the murder. With all this new evidence, Stevenson files for Rule 32 knowing they wouldn’t be able to collect much more without files, which puts the case back in a trial court, thus granting them access to all the files on the case. To gain the records, Stevenson has to meet with Sherrif Tate and his colleagues. Here, Stevenson convinces them to sign a contract confirming that all the files were being shared. With all the new evidence to prove Walter’s innocence and the new feeling of progress, it only took a brief amount of time before the bomb threats begun.

Chapter 8: All God’s Children

This chapter tells the stories of three prisoners sentenced for life without parole, each having committed their crimes as young teenagers. Trina Garnett, Ian Manuel, and Antonio Nunez were all traumatized victims in a life where they didn’t have parental figures to teach them what to do, and now they all must suffer from the consequences each day. They are just three in a system of many like them, hidden away in prisons so attention is not drawn to their poor treatment or stories. Many children, especially black and brown, are unfairly sentenced to life sentences. Years after the crimes, Bryan Stevenson agreed to represent the victims and publicize their stories, trying to get them the help they need. Trina was given a chance to meet her son, while Ian and Antonio had the opportunities to read and learn, giving them hope for a better life. As hard as it is to read the struggles they and many others have gone through, its a harsh reminder of the reality of the justice system. People can change, they can redeem themselves, and those prosecuted as children deserve the chance to do so.

Chapter 9: I’m Here

The hearing for Walter’s case had come, scheduled to occur over the course of 3 days under the watch of Judge Norton. No jury would be present over the case. On the first day, Bryan Stevenson pointed out that in the initial trial that Ralph Myers claimed to be “unknowingly and unwillingly” involved in capital murder / the case. Yet when Ralph was brought in, he testified that everything he initially stated 5 years ago was false and he was pressured into lying by Sheriff Tate. In addition, several witnesses were brought to present that Walter’s truck did not match that of the original testimony by Joe and that Ralph Myers had admitted to lying. On the final day, Bryan Stevenson presented one of the most important pieces of evidence in the case. It was a tape from Ralph’s interrogating that showed Sheriff Tate and two other officers threatening Ralph to have him lie in court. Judge Norton ruled for Stevenson and the State representative to both write arguments as to what they think the ruling should be. Despite the fear Bryan and his colleague, Michael, had after the hearing from the threats they previously received, they would not let it effect them. Now, there was hope amongst Walter’s supporters and the black community for justice.

Chapter 10: Mitigation

Just because it is not permitted to put those with mental disabilities on death row, doesn’t mean they always are put in mental facilities that can properly care for them. In the case of George Daniel, a man who developed serious brain damage after a car accident and killed a cop in self defense, he was determined to be faking his disability by a fraudulent doctor. Fortunately, Bryan Stevenson was able to help get him moved into a mental institute but it was already after the possible trauma from jail. Another client with mental disabilities Stevenson defended was Avery Jenkins. Having suffered from an awful childhood in foster care and ultimately left homeless where he developed a substance abuse issue, Avery stabbed a man believing it was a demon. When Bryan first started visiting Avery, he was faced with an aggressive officer in charge. Despite how much Stevenson visited, the Confederate loving man still treated Stevenson coldly. When Avery Jenkins’ hearing began, Bryan called in doctors to talk about his mental condition and then brought up the unfortunate foster care system Avery dealt with. By the next time Stevenson visited the prison, the formerly rude officer began treating Bryan kindly and approached him; telling him that he was also a part of the foster care system. Avery Jenkins was moved to a mental facility, so Bryan never saw the two again, but he heard the officer quit the prison.

Chapter 11: I’ll Fly Away

When relief was initially denied for Walter, Bryan Stevenson files for an appeal at the Couer of Criminal Appeals. In the meanwhile as they wait, Stevenson reaches out to media sources to cover the case assuming that it will give Walter a safer time once he is freed. This became an all out feud between out of state journalists covering the case and Monroeville papers who wanted Walter guilty. The State gets involved, but even the two new ABI investigators: Tom Taylor and Greg Cole, admit that the evidence all points to Walter being innocent. The Appeal finally gets back, and despite not dismissing the charges, it permitted to order a new trial. Now with the State on their side willing to dismiss the charges against Walter, when the new trial begun under the care of Judge Paschab, it was a quick ordeal. Walter was dismissed of all charges, now declaring him a free man. When he went back to the prison to say his goodbyes and get his belongs, a man who escaped death row, “his freedom was, in a small way, a sign oh hope in a hopeless place.”

Chapter 12: Mother, Mother

Marsha Colbey is just one of many other women like her. Coming from a poor family with many children of her own, when she had an unexpected pregnancy in her 40’s, she decided she couldn’t afford to go to the hospital. When the baby was sadly born stillborn and a neighbor called the police on Marsha, she was accused of capital murder. At this time, the media was granting lots of attention to stories of mothers killing their kids and Alabama considered a fetus a child, deeming it illegal to even have a womb be in an unsafe environment. Due to these factors, Marsha was given an openly biased jury that sentenced her to a life imprisonment without parole. She was then sent to an all female prison, overcrowded and filled with many victims of sexual violence by the male guards. After 10 years, Bryan Stevenson was able to get her free of the charges and reunited with her family. There are so many women unfairly sentenced for stillbirths and accidental pregnancies, torn away from their family then raped. This is still a flaw in today’s justice system that needs more attention.

Chapter 13: Recovery

Post release, for the next few months Walter and Bryan traveled around answering questions/ speaking on the experience. After finally returning home, Walter settled back to life excepting the fact his wife wished to move forward without him. With the media still focused on him, the two worked hard to get Walter proper compensation for his time on death row. But like many, he was not fairly compensated. Later, Bryan Stevenson would travel to Stolckhom to win the Olof Palme International Human Rights Award for his firm, EJI.