Just Mercy Essay Questions

In what way does "closeness" contribute to Stevenson's success as a lawyer?

Early in the memoir, Stevenson recounts how his grandmother instilled in him the lesson that complex problems cannot be understood from a distance; what is needed is closeness. Stevenson takes this wisdom into his later life as a lawyer who advocates for and defends vulnerable people whose fates are at the mercy of an imbalanced criminal justice system. Stevenson gets close to his imprisoned clients by visiting them often; he also gets to know their families and supporters. The closer Stevenson is to the case, the more likely people are to trust that he has their best interests in mind. Through closeness, Stevenson is not only able to garner important information about his clients' cases and construct a compelling narrative for the judge and jury, but he develops a personal stake in the positive outcome of the cases.

In terms of the cases Just Mercy covers, what is unique about the American criminal justice system?

Compared to the rest of the world, the United States has an anomalous criminal justice system for several reasons. Though only five percent of the global population lives in the US, the country holds twenty-five percent of the global prison population. The US also holds the record for the highest number of prisoners who were children at the time of their arrest but charged and sentenced as adults. The fastest-growing demographic of imprisoned people in the US is women, whose incarcerated population has risen since the 1980s at a rate fifty percent higher than men's. These dramatic statistics result from a phenomenon known as mass incarceration—the imprisonment of great swaths of a population that does not correspond to rises in crime levels.

What is significant about Stevenson's first meeting with Stephen Bright?

Stevenson's first meeting with SPDC director Stephen Bright on the flight down to Georgia is significant because Bright inspires Stevenson to begin a commit to a career advocating for the rights of condemned people. Though Stevenson had felt alienated from his Harvard Law School classmates, many of whom went on to represent corporations, Stevenson is engaged by Bright's charisma and enthusiasm. Bright tells Stevenson that "capital punishment means them without the capital get the punishment," a declaration that resonates with Stevenson throughout his career. It is refreshing to Stevenson to hear the issue laid out in such stark terms: poor people are being executed by the State because it is easier than addressing the root cause of the poverty that can exacerbate the likelihood of criminality.

What is significant about Walter McMillian's case?

Walter McMillian's case of wrongful conviction and sentencing to death stands an example of the many injustices and corrupt practices built into the United States judicial system. Though Walter is innocent, the State is so eager to pin Ronda Morrison's murder on someone that they are willing to overlook evidence that would prove his innocence. Walter's time on death row is traumatizing, which highlights the miserable and inhumane prison conditions that the country allows. Even after he is freed, Walter is not given any financial assistance from the government that wrongfully held him for six years. His community, family, and mind never fully rebound from the case. Walter, though freed from prison, is never free from the memories of his experience.

Why might the author have decided to include the character of Mrs. Williams?

Mrs. Williams is a significant character because she highlights the themes of trauma and resilience. The sight of a police dog in the courtroom triggers traumatic stress from an incident when police dogs were set on her decades earlier while marching for her civil rights. But the next day, her resilient spirit gives her the courage to walk past the dog and declare to the courtroom, "I'm here." Her statement attests to the power of resilience in the face of police intimidation and racial injustice. Mrs. Williams stands as an example of the attitude needed to overcome an unfair and cruel judicial system.