In chapter 4, Stevenson and Ansley form the EJI and begin taking on cases even though they are understaffed and financially unstable. Two inmates beg Stevenson and Ansley to take on the cases of Michael Lindsey and Horace Dunkins. They try to get Lindsey’s case appealed but in the end he ends up getting executed in May of 1989. They also try to get Dunkins case appealed but it is denied. Dunkin was intellectually disabled and it wasn’t for 13 years later that the executing a mentally disabled person became illegal. Horace’s execution goes terribly and against the family’s request an autopsy is performed. Stevenson and Ansley struggle to find lawyers who will work under such demanding conditions. Despite their lack of resources Stevenson has
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The lawyer failed to bring up his past and Herbert was guilty by an all-white jury. Stevenson goes to meet Herbert, his family and his new wife on the day of his execution. The most powerful part of this chapter was when he describes Herbert’s wife and family pulling away as they hum the church hymn. In Chapter 5, Stevenson meets with Walter’s family and his sister says that she feels “convicted too”. This is important because it shows that just not only is Walter effected by his own incarceration but his entire family and Black community is as well. By convicting Walter the courts denied the importance of their voices when they repeatedly told law enforcement that Walter was with them at the time of the murder. He relates their feelings to a similar story about a man named John. Both of these men play important roles in their communities and their “fates” have a strong impact on their communities. Stevenson shows just how strong a group of marginalized communities and all the sacrifice and struggles that go into creating a better future for future
The lawyer failed to bring up his past and Herbert was guilty by an all-white jury. Stevenson goes to meet Herbert, his family and his new wife on the day of his execution. The most powerful part of this chapter was when he describes Herbert’s wife and family pulling away as they hum the church hymn. In Chapter 5, Stevenson meets with Walter’s family and his sister says that she feels “convicted too”. This is important because it shows that just not only is Walter effected by his own incarceration but his entire family and Black community is as well. By convicting Walter the courts denied the importance of their voices when they repeatedly told law enforcement that Walter was with them at the time of the murder. He relates their feelings to a similar story about a man named John. Both of these men play important roles in their communities and their “fates” have a strong impact on their communities. Stevenson shows just how strong a group of marginalized communities and all the sacrifice and struggles that go into creating a better future for future