What do you know about the death penalty?
What are the strengths of the U.S. justice system?
What are the challenges of the U.S. justice system?
Do you think that the U.S. should use capital punishment?
About the book:
A
powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion
call to fix our broken system of justice—from one of the most brilliant and
influential lawyers of our time.
Bryan Stevenson was a
young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice
dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly
condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our
criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a
young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he didn’t
commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political
machinations, and legal brinksmanship—and transformed his understanding of
mercy and justice forever.
JUST MERCY is at once an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer’s coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of justice.
For more info: http://bryanstevenson.com/
For sociology class:
As you read, look for connections to sociology. Annotate the book based on the guide
below. Just Mercy is a true story
and thus serves as a real-world example to which sociology concepts can be
applied. You will be required to apply
the sociology concepts in class to the stories in the book.
Alignment to
sociology by unit:
Unit 1: Thinking Sociologically
Introduction:
Higher Ground
Chapter 1:
Mockingbird Players
Meeting
Walter McMillan
Chapter 2:
Stand
The
dynamics of criminal justice.
Unit 2: Culture
Chapter 3:
Trials and Tribulations
Walter’s
Trial moved to a different county.
Chapter 4:
The Old Rugged Cross
Story
of Herbert Richardson; Veteran, mental illness & death penalty
Unit 3: Socialization
Chapter 5:
Of the Coming of John
Walter’s
trial has new testimony from Darnell Houston
Chapter 6:
Surely Doomed
Charlie
on trial 14yrs old
Chapter 12:
Mother, Mother
Chapter 14: Cruel and Unusual
Unit 4: Race
Chapter
7: Justice Denied
Ralph
Myers recants his testimony about Walter.
Chapter 9:
I’m Here
Chapter 10: Mitigation
Unit 5: Deviance and Social Class
Chapter 8: All God’s Children
Trina,
Ian and kids
Chapter 11: I’ll Fly Away
Chapter 13:
Recovery
Chapter 15:
Broken
Chapter 16:
The Stonecatchers Song of Sorrow
Epilogue
Postscript
