Thurgood Marshall
The protagonist of the story, Marshall comes into the Groveland case with an established reputation of civil rights advocacy. He is determined to find justice for the four accused men. Despite the enormous challenge of persuading close-minded juries of the south, he works tirelessly. Even after numerous death threats and the murder of his associate at the NAACP, he continues to fight for his clients. Although Marshall is not able to get them exonerated, he does eventually manage to spare Irvin the death penalty and to get him parole. After the supreme court trial Marshall becomes a legend in the civil rights movement.
Sheriff Willis
He is the Groveland sheriff. Known for his hardcore racist policies, he is popular among his Florida constituents. While transporting the Groveland Boys from one prison to another, he shoots two of them, killing one. Although he claims they were attempting to escape, he is later convicted for shooting them because Irvin survives his wounds to tell the FBI what really happened.
Walter Lee Irvin
Irvin is the only one of the accused to receive parole. Although he is released in 1968, he dies a year later.
Harry T. Moore
Moore is the representative of the NAACP who hired Marshall for the defense. He works closely alongside Marshall throughout the case until he is murdered by members of the KKK. They used his death to try and threaten Marshall into throwing the case.
