Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption

When I first started reading this book I really had no idea what to expect or why I should even take the time to read it. My tendency is to put things into “liberal” and “conservative” buckets and this one seemingly fit into the liberal bucket and I am a professed conservative. I still am but I have to say that I was moved by this story beyond my expectations. There is indeed so much injustice in this world and there is plenty of opportunity for mercy; even mercy extended in unexpected places. The plight of the poor and downtrodden is overwhelming to consider and this book provided a reason to view people’s circumstances before providing condemnation. I would wholeheartedly recommend reading it.

This book is a sad book. It had horrible stories about people that were done wrong by the people of that time. They were people of color, mentally ill people, and the system failed them. We all need to be aware of this and that it happens to ALL people. It doesn’t just happen to black people. It happens to all people. What my rating means is that to bring this out to the forefront and to bring what has happened to the attention of many – doesn’t mean you need to bash white people or make out the police to be the bad people. I am tired of this being the only way authors seem to be able to get a point across. Try another way and you will get the information to more people that aren’t turned off to the rest of the message.

I get it, people don’t like lawyers generally, but I’d wager that most people would change their minds if they met lawyers like Bryan Stevenson.

I heard an interview with Mr. Stevenson and Oprah on the Super Soul Conversations podcast, and I was immediately intrigued. After 10 minutes of hearing Mr. Stevenson speak about his non-profit, the Equal Justice Initiative and the work he does with those condemned to death row, I knew I had to learn more.

Not often is a book life changing to the extent it changes long held beliefs and opinions. Before this book, I had very concrete notions about the legal process and death row cases. After reading this book, I understand that courts and juries can get it wrong more often than we’d dare to think, even in light of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. More disturbing is how difficult it is to reverse sending an innocent person to death row once they’ve been pronounced guilty.

Mr. Stevenson is a Harvard educated lawyer, brilliant writer and inspirational human. Until I read this book, I’d never read another book where I’ve come away thinking, this should be mandatory reading for law school students or at least listed in the Top 100 Books to read in a lifetime list.

This book chronicles Mr. Stevenson’s representation of those condemned to die on death row. While the majority of these people committed the crimes alleged, some of them didn’t. In addition to providing fascinating insight into death row cases and demographics, Mr. Stevenson details helping exonerate Walter McMillan, a death row inmate convicted of killing an 18 year old girl. Despite numerous witnesses attesting to the fact Mr. McMillan was at a church fish fry, the jury sided with witnesses who had been told to say something different by law enforcement. Despite the trial judge on the case telling Mr. Stevenson not to take the case and despite receiving bomb and death threats, Mr. Stevenson took the case, proved the evidence had been contrived, leading to Mr. McMillan’s exoneration in 1993.

I gained a different perspective on death row cases, the importance of initiatives like the Equal Justice Initiative, and a huge respect for Mr. Stevenson and lawyers like him. Not only did I personally feel that I’d been wasting my law degree for the past 18 years after reading this book, it made me want to do more for my community, to do more pro bono work and to really make a difference in lives.

Bravo, Mr. Stevenson, for this beautifully written work and for challenging me to think in ways I never have before on this topic. You make the profession of law proud.

Everyone in America should read this book–what an eye opener! I had no idea that this type of justice was going on in America. Children as young as 13 years old being sent to prison for life without the possibility of parole–and for non-homicidal crimes! Women sent to prison for life for crib death babies when there is no proof that the mother was involved in the death. People on death row who were completely innocent of the crimes they were found guilty of committing. Prosecutors and other officials railroading innocent people to convictions and then giving them death penalties. Judges overruling juries who gave the convicted person life behind bars and instead putting them on death row. Bryan Stevenson has provided an outstanding view of some of the justice being handed out in parts of our country. Most of the people convicted are either extremely poor, of color, or both. Mr. Stevenson, you are an amazing human being for devoting your career to this cause.

Why do we abhor corruption in other countries when it is so prevalent right here? This was the question raised in me while I read this book. Crooked cops and prosecutors, inept public defenders, courts that intentionally ignore truth, resulting in incarceration and death sentences that our founding fathers never would have – or should have – tolerated … All of these are covered here, written so eloquently by an attorney who dedicates his life defending and caring for those suffering under these cruel injustices. I was horrified to read that our laws dictate execution even after proof of innocence is uncovered but is “too late, sorry”! At the beginning I thought that, even though I am an average middle aged white woman, thank God I do not live in the corrupt South. I discovered that Mr. Stevenson’s Equal Justice Initiative has their work cut out for them all over this country. This is no longer the 50’s and 60’s. Shame on us.

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member