Just Mercy- A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
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Web ID: 4130383Fighting injustice
This book is a compelling account of a lawyer’s crusade against America’s injustices in the flawed criminal justice system. The story is a biography of Bryan Stevenson’s navigation through the legal justice system. His story is told through multiple cases he has worked and shines light on the injustices in marginalized communities. Stevenson’s journey through the legal system is very enlightening and impactful. It shows the complexities of navigating justice through a broken legal system. The cases he takes on are written very well and draw the reader to want to read into them more. He had a way of writing them in a way to make you actually angry and passionate about the cases. I felt like I couldn’t put the book down because I wanted to know the outcomes of the cases. I loved the way that he told the story of each person in the cases, so we could see that they were people. It made me care for each case and hope they were solved. I would recommend this book because it is very well written and interesting. Stevenson’s narrative shares insight into the challenges faced when navigating the legal system. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in government, social justice, law, and equality.
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Profound, Thought-provoking, and Truly Inspiring
I’m going to be honest I’m not a big reader - Im pre-law so I read all. the. time. and haven’t voluntarily picked up a book in YEARS. But I decided to give this a shot over winter break and it is by far the best book I have ever read. I am so inspired by this hero’s work and I am excited to read more like this. Incredible story and incredible writing.
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An important, impactful book
“…we all need mercy. We all need justice. And perhaps, we all need some measure of unmerited grace.” Read passionately by the author, this audiobook was a tough listen. The horror of capital punishment alongside stories of wrongful convictions made my stomach turn and filled me with outrage. I had to take breaks while listening to this one, but I refused to quit. I felt convicted to not look away from what made me uncomfortable and to learn what work was left to be done. There were several hopeful stories and many victories—yet still these tales began with injustice and trauma, which leaves a terrible mark. An important, impactful book on the justice system, racism, poverty, prisons, and more.
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A very important read - for all ages
As a young lawyer, Bryan founded the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), a non-profit law office dedicated to defending the poor, incarcerated and the wrongly condemned. This is the story of EJI in its beginning with just a couple of lawyers and through the inception of what it is today – a thriving practice of over 150 people. While the book does recount cases of several people Bryan and his team worked with in the beginning, much of the book focuses on his trying to help Walter McMillian. Walter was on death row for the murder of a young white woman that he did not commit. At the time of the murder, Walter was miles away at a family gathering and was able to prove that he wasn’t anywhere near the crime scene. Heartbreaking at times, but also unforgettable. It is a sad book and a bit difficult to read at times but overall, a very well-written, informative, and slightly overwhelming book.
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Ten top ideas in the book
1. The criminal justice system is broken, and we need to work towards creating a more just and equitable system for all. 2. Mass incarceration is a major problem in the United States, and we need to work towards reducing the number of people who are incarcerated. 3. People who are on death row are often poor, disadvantaged, and lack access to adequate legal representation. 4. The death penalty is flawed and often applied in a racially biased manner. 5. We need to address the issue of racial inequality in the criminal justice system. 6. Children should not be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. 7. Compassion and mercy are important values that should guide our criminal justice system. 8. We need to take a more holistic approach to criminal justice that takes into account the root causes of crime, such as poverty and trauma. 9. We should strive to create a criminal justice system that is based on rehabilitation and restoration, rather than punishment and retribution. 10. We need to listen to and center the voices of people who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system, including those who are currently or formerly incarcerated, in order to create a more just and equitable system.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Just amazing.
There are a few things to know about this book... 1) The writing draws you in. It may be nonfiction, but Bryan Stevenson writes so beautifully you feel compelled to keep going. 2) The real stories he shares about death row inmates are compelling and make you question everything you've assumed or been told about our criminal justice system. 3) This man is truly a saint. An amazing person who has committed his life to doing amazing things. Read the book, then commit to supporting EJI as they continue working on behalf of death row inmates across the country!
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Just Mercy
Extremely important book that shows how flawed and unfair our Justice system truly is. Everyone should read this
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Just Mercy
Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, outlines the racial injustice in Monroeville, Alabama. Bryan Stevenson hammers home that racial injustice in the legal arena in his novel, Just Mercy. So much inequality in the justice for African Americans, Hispanics, and the poor. I was dismayed to learn the plight of children sent to adult court for minor crimes and then forced into adult prisons for a life sentence and no chance of parole. Another area bothered me, the handling of girls and young women sent to prison for the death of a stillborn baby. These poor females could not afford healthcare and when the baby dies, they are saddled with the blame. The majority of the book focuses on Walter McMillian, an African American, arrested, charged, and sent to death row for the murder of a white woman. Walter was at home with friends and family when the murder took place, but the white police, lawyers, and judge convicted Walter, never really investigating the crime. After 6 years on death row, Walter was released due to the persistent work of Bryan Stevenson, his lawyer. Stevenson was also responsible for getting Anthony Ray Hinton released from death row after 30 years for a crime he did not commit. Again, Anthony was in a locked job site with other employees and could not have committed the murder. Unequal justice does not rest only in Alabama, but in the majority of Southern states and even in California. Many changes have been made in the judicial system, but still more legislation must be passed.
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