So ultimately I am looking for a book by a defence attorney about the experience defending some who the future (whether near or far) proves them innocent, whether or not they were acquitted or convicted.
I’m also interested in books and stories by people related to or involved in those types of cases that have not been acting as counsel, whether that be an accused, their family, the victims family, law enforcement or other professionals involved in the case.
The subject for this I am interested in is the experience and thoughts and feelings behind going through the court system as a truly innocent person, whether from the perspective of the defense attorney, the accused or those around the accused and the victim.
My main interest though with this request is definitely from the defense attorneys experience first and foremost but again, please add any suggestions that fit overall!!
On my list I currently have:
Just Mercy
The Sun Does Shine
I’m Canadian and my interest in this comes from my experience working in the legal industry (civil litigation), along side my interest in crime and social justice for extra context in case you have suggestions that teeter on the edge, I’m definitely open to suggestions that may even only be tangentially related if anything crosses your mind while reading this – can never have to many book recommendations!
Thank you!!
by Gandhehehe
3 Comments
The Innocent Man by John Grisham is a good one.
Just Mercy is really fantastic and a perfect fit so don’t wait to read that one off your list.
These recs are both tangential related but King is a great writer and often focuses on these types of stories. He cites Bryan Stevenson as a major inspiration for telling these stories of injustices:
Bone Valley by Gilbert King – about a case in the 1980s of a man accused of murdering his wife. Interesting perspective as well about how just bringing more attention to a case via the media can really change things.
Devil In The Grove by Gilbert King as well – a little more removed but broadly about Thurgood Marshall (important NAACP lawyer during the civil rights movement) and specifically about a case of four Black men accused of raping a white woman in the 1950s. This one won a Pulitzer.
I read Solitary by Albert Woodfox a few years ago. It’s about his experience being in solitary confinement in the US for 40 years for a crime he did not commit. I hesitate to say I enjoyed the book because that feels an inappropriate way to describe what he’s written about his experiences and life. But I did find it extremely impactful and I was absorbed throughout.