Just Mercy: Chapter 11 Summary & Analysis

After Walter’s hearing, EJI continues to receive bomb threats. Their staff is growing, and now includes summer interns, whom Stevenson writes “didn’t sign up” for this kind of danger. A series of murders in nearby cities targeting people involved in civil rights efforts compels EJI to take the threats seriously. EJI’s white receptionist “scolds” one of the threatening callers. Some callers mention Walter, which convinces the organization that the threats are related to Walter’s case. One caller tells Stevenson he was offered money to kill Stevenson but he refused. Despite the threats, they continue because they have “work to do.”

Stevenson receives Judge Norton’s decision. In The judge’s written response, Norton addresses only Myers’ recantation of his testimony. Norton writes that Myers was either lying during the trial or lying at the hearing. He states (without offering proof) that Myers was likely coerced to recant his testimony, and concludes that there is no reason to believe Myers perjured his original testimony. Stevenson remarks that Norton cited no laws and addressed none of the other witness testimonies. He writes that Norton was uninterested in the subject of Walter’s guilt because the judge was “locked into a maintenance role […] a custodian for the system.” Stevenson reassures Walter that his best chance will be the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. Between 1990 and 1992, EJI secured several death penalty reversals through the Court of Appeals, despite political resistance. Stevenson is sure that the suppressed “exculpatory evidence” during Walter’s trial will ensure that he gets an appeal.

Michael moves to San Diego to work as a public defender. While Michael will miss EJI, Stevenson describes him as being “less conflicted about leaving Alabama.” Michael is replaced by Bernard Harcourt. Stevenson writes that Bernard had planned for a “traditional legal career,” but had become passionate about the work of EJI after interning one summer. After Walter’s hearing, many more in Monroeville come forward with leads and stories of corruption.

Stevenson realizes the need to change Walter’s public image to make his return safer should EJI secure his release. Stevenson is wary because, he writes, media coverage of civil right cases often creates a “backlash” that worsens life for oppressed people. Judge Patterson, the chief judge of the Court of Appeals, had once, as governor, sued the New York Times for defamation following coverage during the civil rights movement. In Sullivan vs. New York Times, the Supreme Court ruled that defamation lawsuits required evidence of intent. The ruling was a “victory for freedom of the press,” but it created further contempt for national media in the South. Stevenson writes that he usually avoids national coverage of death penalty cases because it can lead to faster execution dates. Nevertheless, local media continues to depict Walter as an incredibly dangerous and predatory criminal, and Stevenson fears that Walter’s appeal will also be influenced if they aren’t able to reverse his image.

Stevenson agrees to work with the CBS program 60 Minutes to produce a story about Walter’s case. Their reporters come to Monroeville and interview Walter, Myers, Chapman, and everyone involved in the case. Even before the story airs, the local newspapers release several articles condemning “big time reporters” for what they consider to be biased and condescending investigation of the case. Despite the disapproving views of local media and officials, most of the community watches and respects 60 Minutes. When the story airs, many begin to question Walter’s guilt. The black community is relieved to finally see coverage of Walter’s side of the story. Though Chapman defends Walter’s conviction in the CBS story, he has, unbeknownst to Stevenson, launched his own investigation into Walter’s guilt though the ABI. Stevenson writes that Chapman had begun to reconsider putting his career at risk for a conviction he was beginning to suspect was wrongful.

New ABI investigators Tom Taylor and Greg Cole contact Stevenson, asking for files from Walter’s case. Stevenson writes that the investigators weren’t “connected to any of the players in South Alabama.” Six months after EJI files Walter’s appeal, ABI informs Stevenson that they have determined that Walter isn’t guilty. They also report that Bill Hooks and Joe Hightower have retracted their testimonies. They say that the public is more likely to accept Walter’s innocence if another suspect is found, which EJI has already considered. Stevenson writes that EJI had received frequent calls from a man inquiring about the case and offering bogus leads. After some investigation into their caller, EJI determined he was the most likely suspect. EJI discovered that, before her death, Ronda Morrison may have been stalked by a white man and that a white man was also seen at the Cleaners on the day of the murder. Stevenson agrees to give information about his suspect to ABI.

The ABI encourages Stevenson to pause further action until they can arrest another suspect. Stevenson feels that it is ridiculous and cruel to keep an innocent man in prison until the real murderer is found. Stevenson tries to hasten Walter’s appeal, but State officials ask him for “patience.” Stevenson is furious when the State requests a stay motion on Walter’s appeal pending their recovery of evidence that will exonerate him. Stevenson speaks regularly with Walter’s family. Knowing everything that has gone wrong in Walter’s case, Stevenson is wary of encouraging Walter’s family to be hopeful, but he encourages them regardless. He quotes the Czech leader Václav Havel, who wrote that what those oppressed under Soviet rule needed most was “hope.” Stevenson summarizes Havel by writing that what people needed was “the kind of hope that creates a willingness to position oneself in a hopeless place and be a witness […] even in the face of abusive power.”

Six weeks after EJI files the appeal, Stevenson receives notice that the judge has issued a ruling. He rushes to the courthouse to pick up the 35-page ruling in which the judge nullifies Walter’s sentence and conviction and mandates a new trial. Stevenson drives to death row to tell Walter. He explains that they must wait for the new trial, but that he would be very surprised if Walter were convicted a second time. Walter’s astonishment and relief quickly gives way to sadness. Walter tells Stevenson that he has spent so long fearing for his life that he hasn’t stopped to consider how many years he has lost. They switch to joking around and talking about things Walter looks forward to after release. Stevenson remarks that, throughout everything, Walter never lost his sense of humor. The two have often laughed together, except now it is “the laughter of liberation.”

Before a new trial can be scheduled, Stevenson files a motion to have all of Walter’s charges dropped. The State decides to join rather than oppose the motion. Before the hearing, Stevenson visits Minnie to pick up a suit for Walter. Minnie asks Stevenson to talk to Walter about leaving Monroeville for his safety after he has a chance to celebrate with his friends and family. She says that Stevenson must prepare Walter for the fact that he can’t “go back to the way things were.” Stevenson writes: “For the first time, I fully reckoned with the truth that the […] devastation of this miscarriage of justice had created permanent injuries.”

The morning of the hearing, Stevenson tells Walter about his conversation with Minnie. Walter seems sad, but he tells Stevenson: “nothing can really spoil getting your freedom back.” At the courthouse, Tom Chapman tells Stevenson that he has learned things that he didn’t realize he “had to learn.” The new judge, Pamela Baschab, quickly grants the motion to drop the charges after Stevenson presents his brief. Stevenson realizes that everyone is unusually kind because they don’t want any “grudges.” He considers the many others wrongfully executed without legal aid, and he feels a “simmering anger.” In his closing statements, Stevenson warns the court that it was “too easy” for Walter to be wrongfully sentenced to death and “too difficult to win his freedom,” and that there is still “work” to do. Between cheering crowds and news cameras, Walter embraces his friends and family. He tells Stevenson that he “feels like a bird.”