Questions and Answers
What do you think is the best way to treat minors and youths caught up in the justice system?
Put them through therapy and not in jail.
How does poverty reinforce the prejudice built into these systems, according to Stevenson?
What happens in court on the first day of the Rule 32 trial?
Myers explains he was pressured by the police to lie.
What happens to the court gallery on the second day?
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Why does Mrs. Williams not show up on the second day?
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What evidence presented at the trial is most powerful to you?
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What is the State's response to Stevenson's case?
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What are some of the statistics Stevenson presents about mental illness and incarceration?
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What happened with Avery Jenkins?
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What does Stevenson say about the treatment of those suffering from physical versus mental disabilities?
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Who is Dorothea Dix?
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What does 'mitigation' mean in the legal context?
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What is the court's ruling in the Rule 32 trial?
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Why was Stevenson hopeful for relief despite the ruling?
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What role does the 60 Minutes episode on Walter have on the case?
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What findings did the ABI present in the new investigation?
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What is the importance of hope, according to Stevenson?
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What toll does Walter's case take on his family?
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Was justice finally served to Walter?
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Describe Marsha's life before she gave birth.
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Who is the most guilty of wrongdoing in Marsha's case?
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What Alabama law put so many poor young women at risk of prosecution?
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What are some secondary consequences of the imprisonment of poor women?
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How is Stevenson able to help Marsha?
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How are women like Marsha affected by laws that keep them in cycles of poverty?
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What impact does the conservative majority in Congress have on Stevenson's work?
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Why does Stevenson travel to Sweden?
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Who is Joe Sullivan, and what happened to him?
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What is the 'prison industrial complex'?
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What is the eighth amendment to the US Constitution?
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What decisions did the US Supreme Court make in 2002 regarding the capital punishment of those with mental disabilities?
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How many other countries sentence minors to life in prison?
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Which two subsets of children serving life sentences does Stevenson focus on?
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Who gave Stevenson's U.S. Supreme Court case public support?
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Why is Stevenson starting to feel overwhelmed by 2009?
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What happens to Walter?
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What trend is the US experiencing in capital punishment sentenced rates?
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What does Stevenson argue before the Supreme Court in 2005 regarding methods of execution?
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What is the irony in states breaking laws to access drugs for lethal injection?
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What is Stevenson's conclusion about justice and mercy?
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What would Stevenson say about defining justice purely as punishment for wrongdoers?
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How did Stevenson's background prepare him for law school?
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What famous novel was written in Monroe County, AL, and how is it relevant to Just Mercy?
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In what ways did the Alabama government contribute to the economic difficulties of the state's African American population?
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Why was Ralph Myers considered to be so trustworthy by the Monroe County police department?
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What two cases involving the Gadsden police does Stevenson detail? What do the two cases have in common?
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Which recent news stories parallel the cases in Gadsden?
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Describe Stevenson's own interaction with the police in Atlanta and how that affects him personally and professionally.
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What other issues within the law enforcement infrastructure and society do the three episodes with the police reveal?
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How did the senior citizen attending Stevenson's church lecture earn his 'medals of honor'?
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Be able to detail what happened to Walter McMillian that landed him on death row before his conviction.
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What is the importance of the 1986 Batson v. Kentucky ruling?
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Why was the trial moved?
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Who were some of Walter McMillian's most important allies? What evidence was there in support of McMillian's innocence?
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In your opinion, who or what is to blame for Walter's conviction?
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Why does Stevenson spend so long telling McMillian's story?
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Who was Herbert Duncan, and what did he experience prior to his arrest, trial, and sentencing?
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Describe the 1989 Supreme Court ruling related to death penalty appeals. What impact did that have across the country?
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When do judge overrides increase and for what reason?
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Define the 2002 Supreme Court case of Atkins v. Virginia.
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Alabama's capital statute requires that murder be intentional for a defendant to be eligible for the death penalty. Why is this relevant in Duncan's case?
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Duncan was a U.S. war veteran who suffered tremendous mental trauma while serving our nation. How should that be factored into his defense?
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What does Stevenson report and reveal about the lives of the prison staff and how they treated Duncan?
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How did Duncan's execution affect Stevenson and the others at the clinic?
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What does Stevenson note about the statistics of veterans in prison?
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What flaws in both the justice system and the veterans' services system does this chapter highlight?
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What is the origin of this chapter's name?
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Why is Walter's family convinced he will be exonerated? How do they treat Stevenson?
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How is the relationship between Stevenson and Walter changing?
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What evidence does Darnell Houston provide, and how does trying to help Walter McMillian put him in a quandary?
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Even with the new evidence, what happens at the appeal for a new trial?
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Why does it annoy Stevenson that To Kill a Mockingbird is a point of pride in Monroeville?
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How would you characterize Stevenson's mood at the end of this chapter?
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Why is Charlie in jail in the first place?
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What is happening to Charlie while he is in jail? Why is he not in a juvenile detention center?
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In what ways has the system failed to protect Charlie, both before and after his incarceration?
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What special circumstances of the murder victim lead to greater struggles for Charlie? Does this seem fair?
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How does Stevenson finally convince Charlie to speak with him?
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Who are Mr. and Mrs. Jennings, and what do they do for Charlie?
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What are the death penalty laws for juveniles? What does Stevenson think about these laws?
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What evidence and arguments does Stevenson present on appeal for Walter McMillian?
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What evidence do Stevenson and O'Connor discover as they prepare the appeal?
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Why does Myers have a change of heart? What new information does he want to offer, and why does Stevenson not trust him?
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Why does Stevenson investigate both the Morrison and Pittman murders, and what does he discover?
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What does Payne vs. Tennessee allow for?
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What does McKlesky vs. Kemp reveal? How does the race of the victim come into decisions about sentencing?
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Why did Stevenson not have access to police files and records in Walter's case? How does he get them?
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What are the backgrounds, cases, and sentences for Trina, Ian, and Antonio?
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Once sentenced to life as minors, how do each of the three endure abuse within the prison system?
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How is it that Antonio was sentenced to life in prison despite being a minor in California?
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What correlation does Stevenson reveal between incarcerated youth and race?
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Study Notes
Law School Preparation and Literary Connections
- Stevenson's privileged upbringing in a wealthy white family facilitated his law school education.
- "To Kill a Mockingbird," written in Monroe County, AL, parallels "Just Mercy" through themes of racial injustice and innocent black men being defended by white lawyers.
Economic Issues in Alabama
- The Alabama government supported white landowners transitioning to timber farming, exacerbating economic hardship for African Americans as cotton farming declined.
Police Trust and Accountability
- Ralph Myers was deemed trustworthy by the Monroe County police due to his status as a white lawyer.
- Stevenson details two Gadsden police cases: one involving Mr. Ruffin who died after alleged police brutality, and another with a black teenager shot after a minor traffic stop, highlighting systemic failures in policing.
Public Reaction and Personal Encounters
- The Baltimore Riots following Freddie Gray's death echo the injustices faced in Gadsden.
- Stevenson's personal police encounter in Atlanta left him confused and concerned, prompting him to seek accountability from law enforcement.
Social Trust and Police Relationships
- Episodes discussed reveal a lack of police effectiveness and strained community trust toward law enforcement.
Historical Context and Personal Struggles
- A senior citizen at Stevenson's church earned "medals of honor" for his civil rights activism, highlighting a legacy of bravery and sacrifice.
- Walter McMillian was wrongfully convicted based on coerced allegations from Myers, resulting in his arrest under flawed legal premises.
Legal Landmark Cases
- The 1986 Batson v. Kentucky ruling improved the ability to challenge racial discrimination in jury selection, offering hope to black defendants.
- Walter's trial was moved to a predominantly white county, significantly impacting the jury's composition.
Advocacy and Evidence for McMillian's Innocence
- Key allies for McMillian included supportive family, police officers, and church community leaders who provided alibi evidence during the time of the alleged crime.
- New evidence revealed the corrupt practices of the sheriff and perjury in witness testimonies, which Stevenson worked to bring to light.
Systemic Flaws in Justice and Veterans' Services
- Herbert Duncan, a Vietnam veteran with PTSD, faced execution highlighting flaws in recognizing mental health in legal defenses.
- National trends show alarming statistics of military veterans incarcerated, indicating systemic neglect.
Socioeconomic Influences on Youth Justice
- Cases of juvenile defendants like Charlie reveal disparities in treatment within the justice system, exacerbated by background factors like trauma and poverty.
- Stevenson critiques the punitive measures for young offenders, emphasizing the need for rehabilitative rather than harsh punitive approaches.
Racial Disparities in Sentencing
- Research indicates that the race of victims significantly influences death penalty decisions, revealing profound racial bias in the justice system.
Developments in Walter McMillian's Case
- New findings emerged, including recantations from key witnesses and pressure tactics used by law enforcement, leading to legal attempts at establishing McMillian’s innocence.
- Public and media scrutiny intensified as Stevenson and his team pursued the truth amidst systemic resistance.
Judicial Dynamics and Public Sentiment
- The jury’s reception of Myers' recantation and subsequent changes during trial proceedings reflect on public awareness of systemic racism and biases.
Community Support Networks
- Mr. and Mrs. Jennings represent altruistic efforts toward rehabilitation, contributing positively to Charlie’s education and stability.
- Stevenson underscores the importance of community support in the journeys of those navigating the justice system.
Final Notes on Stevenson’s Reflections
- Stevenson expresses frustration with the justice system’s treatment of marginalized defendants, advocating for fair reassessment of cases based on their contexts.
- The narrative highlights the complexity of navigating systemic oppression, emphasizing the need for compassion and understanding in justice practices.### Key Events and Personal Stories
- Mrs. Williams recalls the traumatic events of 1965 in Selma, where civil rights activists faced police violence with attack dogs.
- Powerful trial evidence includes conflicting testimonies about a low rider seen on the day of the murder, undermined by a mechanic's statement regarding the car's repair history.
- The State's response to Stevenson's evidence at the trial is marked by shock and fear among attendees, highlighting its potential to sway the case.
Mental Illness and Incarceration Statistics
- Over 50% of U.S. prison inmates have a diagnosed mental illness, a rate nearly five times that of the general population.
- Deinstitutionalization rates exceed 95% in several states, raising concerns about mental health treatment.
- Nearly 20% of inmates suffer from serious mental illnesses, revealing systemic issues.
Legal and Systemic Issues
- Avery Jenkins suffers from mental illness but initially receives little belief or support from the legal system.
- The treatment of individuals with mental disabilities is harshly contrasted with those suffering from physical ailments, emphasizing a lack of respect and proper care.
- Dorothea Dix is highlighted for her advocacy in improving treatment for the mentally ill.
Court Rulings and Justice System Reflection
- Walter McMillian's Rule 32 hearing results in an unfavorable ruling, largely due to reliance on a recanted testimony.
- Stevenson's hopeful stance for Walter's relief remains despite judicial setbacks and the ongoing fight for justice.
- The impact of the "60 Minutes" episode prompts a reinvestigation by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, revealing flaws in the original case.
Socioeconomic and Gender Issues
- Marsha Colby, a poor woman, faces legal repercussions after her stillborn child was born under unfortunate circumstances, which leads to her arrest.
- New Alabama laws regarding exposure to dangerous environments disproportionately affect impoverished women, increasing their risk of prosecution.
- Female inmates face significant collateral consequences, particularly as the majority are mothers, impacting their children’s well-being and future.
Advocacy and Systemic Change
- Stevenson argues against laws that criminalize poverty, highlighting their detrimental impact on vulnerable populations.
- Financial restitution for wrongfully imprisoned individuals is advocated due to the severe consequences of their wrongful incarceration.
- Stevenson’s recognition of the harsh realities faced by individuals, particularly children sentenced to life imprisonment, draws attention to systemic inequities based on race and class.
Personal and Social Justice Themes
- Walter's eventual release does not free him from the trauma of his past, as he encounters safety concerns and health declines, illustrating the lasting effects of wrongful imprisonment.
- Stevenson views justice not as mere punishment but as an opportunity for mercy and compassion towards those who have erred.
- The narrative demonstrates the need for a legal system that integrates justice with humane treatment, ultimately advocating for societal reform.
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Description
This quiz explores the connection between law school education and racial injustice through the works of Stevenson and the narratives in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and 'Just Mercy'. It examines economic issues in Alabama and systemic police failures affecting the African American community. Delve into critical themes around equity, trust, and accountability in the justice system.