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most of the deputies knew something of Stuart’s dark side, but it was easier to ignore it and hope for the best, hope no one got hurt.
He prayed long and hard for justice and healing, but was a bit light on mercy.
“Those pricks down at the Rotary Club and the church and the coffee shop will not make you a lawyer and will not make you a dime.” And, “To be a real lawyer, first you grow a thick skin, and second you tell everybody but your clients to go to hell.” And, “A real lawyer is not afraid of unpopular cases.”
In the parlance of the Bible Belt, those within the faith used many words and terms to describe those outside of it. On the harsher end of the spectrum, the “lost” were referred to as heathen, unsaved, unclean, hell-bound, and just old-fashioned sinners. More polite Christians called them nonbelievers, future saints, backsliders, or—the favorite—unchurched.
The facts were as simple as they were complicated.
Was he about to make a courageous decision, or the biggest mistake of his career? He finally walked to his desk, picked up the phone, and called Carla. Then he called Judge Noose.
Mississippi had a long history of putting minors on trial for serious crimes.
Why does biology allow children to have children?
It was Carla’s long-standing opinion that men, contrary to popular opinion, were worse gossips than women. Jake found it hard to disagree.
“I have come to despise judicial elections. Politics should be kept out of the judiciary at all levels.
vacations. In a small town everyone was eager to help, but then everyone also knew your business.
Murder must be punished, but murder can also be justified.
look at them now. Drew is on trial for his life. Kiera is pregnant after being raped repeatedly. What kind of future do they have? I ask you, ladies and gentlemen, to show a little mercy, a little compassion. When you and I leave here we’ll go home and get on with our lives, and with time this trial will become a fading memory. They’re not so lucky. I plead with you for compassion, for understanding, for mercy to allow this sad little family—Drew, Kiera, Josie—the chance to rebuild their own lives. I plead with you to find Drew Allen Gamble not guilty. Thank you.”
“Why do so many white people love the death penalty?” Portia asked. “It’s in the water. We grow up with it. We hear it at home, at church, at school, among friends. This is the Bible Belt, Portia, eye for an eye and all that.” “What about the New Testament and Jesus’s sermons on forgiveness?” “It’s not convenient. He also preached love first, tolerance, acceptance, equality. But most Christians I know are quite good at cherry-picking their way through the Holy Scriptures.”
