Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults): A True Story of the Fight for Justice

As a Harvard Law student in 1983, Bryan Stevenson interns at the Southern Prisoners Defense Committee (SPDC). Though he is unsure what he wants to do with his life, he knows it will have something “to do with the lives of the poor, America’s history of racial inequality, and the struggle to be just and fair with one another” (4). For this goal, an internship with the SPDC, which defends people on death row in Georgia, is the answer.

Stevenson meets Steve Bright, the director of SPDC, who explains that “capital punishment means ‘them without the capital get the punishment’” (5). Stevenson is sent to visit Henry, a young Black man on death row awaiting legal presentation from SPDC, and explains that he will not be executed in the next year.

Though Stevenson is nervous and feels inadequate, Henry is happy for the news and grateful that anyone has come speak to him at all. Before the prison guard takes Henry away again, he sings an old church hymn. Stevenson is struck by Henry’s compassion, though Henry is the one who needs comfort. Stevenson leaves his internship inspired. Now committed to helping death row prisoners, Stevenson completes his law degree and returns to SPDC to continue the work.