Attorney Adrienne Friedman Character Analysis in Dear Justyce

Adrienne is SJ’s mother, and she’s also a lawyer who agrees to take on Quan’s case. According to Justyce, she has a lot of experience with cases like Quan’s in which a Black young man is incarcerated after ending up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Quan is skeptical of her at first, but he soon comes to appreciate her. Unlike Quan’s other lawyers, Adrienne actually listens to what he has to say and believes his version of events. Most surprisingly, though, she’s the first lawyer Quan has ever had who wants to see him be entirely free and reintegrate into society. She also acts as a mentor to Justyce, who is an aspiring lawyer himself.

Attorney Adrienne Friedman Quotes in Dear Justyce

The Dear Justyce quotes below are all either spoken by Attorney Adrienne Friedman or refer to Attorney Adrienne Friedman. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

She came in and we talked for a while and she asked me a bunch of questions the other dude never asked. And I’m pretty sure she actually believes everything I told her. Which was even a little bit uncomfortable despite the fact that I was telling the truth.

I just didn’t realize what a difference it would make to be in conversation with someone who genuinely wants to keep me OUT of prison altogether. Shit made me realize that in all my years dealing with the system, I ain’t never had an attorney who wanted to see me totally free.

Related Characters: Quan Banks (speaker), Justyce, Attorney Adrienne Friedman

Page Number and Citation: 185

Explanation and Analysis:

Attorney Adrienne Friedman Character Timeline in Dear Justyce

The timeline below shows where the character Attorney Adrienne Friedman appears in Dear Justyce. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Justice, Racial Bias, and Growing Up Theme Icon

Identity, Support, and Community Theme Icon

...debate tournament—but this time, a “young (almost) man’s freedom is on the line.” Justyce thanks Attorney Friedman , Doc, Liberty, Jared, and SJ for coming. He lays out the facts: Quan has... (full context)

Doc and Liberty say that Quan is loyal to a fault. When Attorney Friedman asks them to elaborate, Doc notes that Quan refused the counsel offered by the gang... (full context)

...shots. Jared is confused as to why they arrested Quan without running ballistics first, but Attorney Friedman explains that they probably arrested Quan as soon as they found his prints on the... (full context)

...has thought of this. To Justyce, this seems like a done deal—but SJ, Doc, and Attorney Friedman point out that Quan confessed, and his confession is admissible in court. Justyce says it... (full context)

Quan writes that he fired John Mark, which Justyce probably already knows. Adrienne is his lawyer now, though he feels weird calling her by her first name. In... (full context)

At the end of their meeting, Adrienne shocked Quan by saying that they all want to see him reintegrate into society and... (full context)

...here to oppose the DA. The man is tall, stately, and Black—and seems proud when Attorney Friedman introduces Justyce as a prelaw intern. Justyce explains to Baldwin that he’s known Quan since... (full context)

...to investigate these matters. Justyce forces himself to meet Baldwin’s eyes as the DA compliments Attorney Friedman for taking Justyce on. Baldwin then tells Justyce that Quan is lucky to have him... (full context)

Survival, Poverty, and Violence Theme Icon

...now that he has his diploma, but Doc still shows up and gives assignments. Apparently Attorney Friedman and Liberty pulled some strings and now, Quan is earning college credit. Doc also wants... (full context)

...he owes Martel that kind of money, he must also be in debt to Tay, Attorney Friedman , Liberty, Doc, and Justyce. The ledger makes Quan ask his least favorite questions: why... (full context)

...for him because it’s the right thing to do. Suddenly, the door flies open. It’s Attorney Friedman , and she asks Quan and Doc to come with her. (full context)

...a panic attack. He comes to when he feels a hand on his arm. It’s Adrienne asking if he’s okay. (full context)

...still on the screen, Quan is wearing his favorite hoodie. He misses it. He tells Attorney Friedman that he’s fine. She goes to the front of the room and says that they’re... (full context)

...it, but Quan is angry and confused. Justyce says that Quan’s Miranda rights were violated. Attorney Friedman explains that Quan invoked his right to remain silent every time he went into the... (full context)

...writes that Quan can’t tell anyone, but documents from the state labs just arrived at Attorney Friedman ’s office. He included a photocopy. Quan was right: the ballistics don’t match. This should... (full context)

Suddenly, Quan can breathe and he sees Tay and Attorney Friedman leaning over him. This is embarrassing, and he asks what day it is—he sees Tay... (full context)

Quan gulps and sweats, but Tay and Attorney Friedman smile at each other. They have news: they heard back on the motion. The court... (full context)