The Equal Justice Initiative Set Up By Bryan Stevenson

The Equal Justice Initiative set up by Bryan Stevenson has brought about many changes to the court system and the lives of many people. Stevenson has represented many different people, the majority of which were on death row for unjust reasons. Herbert Richardson, a Vietnam veteran with mental disabilities, was sentenced to death row after a bomb he made accidentally went off killing a child. Another man named Avery Jenkins, a man born with mental disabilities, stabbed a man to death believing the man was a demon trying to kill Avery. Although these cases have similarities and differences, they both show how flawed the judicial system is. Bryan Stevenson seeks to bring justice to those who have been wrongfully convicted due to their race and

Since both men were African American the court profiled them the same way they would any African American criminal, completely at fault regardless of intent and background. Avery and Herbert's lawyers never brought up their backgrounds. Herbert's lawyer told him: "that he didn't see any reason to appeal the conviction or sentence because the trial had been as fair as he could expect" (Stevenson 77). Although the trial was not as fair as it should have been, Herbert's jury had been all white. Due to the racial problems in the south, it was important for an African American man on trial to have some representation of his own color in the jury. Without representation of his race, Herbert was going to be racially discriminated against. The same problem follows for Avery who was also not properly represented by his lawyer. Many of Stevenson's client's original attorneys did little to no investigation into their background, causing most of them to appear guilty without question. This flaw in the judicial system is what caused the spike in number of the incarcerated. Without proper legal representation and fair juries, many defendants appear guilty and are sent to

These lawyers cared more about pinning the crime on someone and closing the case, than actually figuring out who committed the crime. Stevenson represents cases in a way that shows how critical and important it is for the court to truly think about their decisions. Stevenson states that: "The Court's ruling had become increasingly hostile to death row prisoners and less committed to the notion that 'death is different,' requiring more careful review" (Stevenson 78). The court system and the conduct of: police men, lawyers, judges, and juries, had become so strayed from the path of justice that the court system would rather kill then try to save a persons life. Instead of allowing a retrial of someone who had inadequate legal representation or had mental disabilities the court simply wanted to let them die. Stevenson explains that: "...we were comfortable killing people who kill, in part because we think we can do it in a manner that doesn't implicate our own humanity,…" (Stevenson 90-91). The court is willing to condemn a man to death because it is easier to say so, than to be the one to actually do