Mercy on Trial

Mercy on Trial
Author: Austin Sarat
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 340
Release: 2009-02-09
Genre: Law
ISBN: 1400826721

On January 11, 2003, Illinois Governor George Ryan--a Republican on record as saying that "some crimes are so horrendous . . . that society has a right to demand the ultimate penalty"--commuted the capital sentences of all 167 prisoners on his state's death row. Critics demonized Ryan. For opponents of capital punishment, however, Ryan became an instant hero whose decision was seen as a signal moment in the "new abolitionist" politics to end killing by the state. In this compelling and timely work, Austin Sarat provides the first book-length work on executive clemency. He turns our focus from questions of guilt and innocence to the very meaning of mercy. Starting from Ryan's controversial decision, Mercy on Trial uses the lens of executive clemency in capital cases to discuss the fraught condition of mercy in American political life. Most pointedly, Sarat argues that mercy itself is on trial. Although it has always had a problematic position as a form of "lawful lawlessness," it has come under much more intense popular pressure and criticism in recent decades. This has yielded a radical decline in the use of the power of chief executives to stop executions. From the history of capital clemency in the twentieth century to surrounding legal controversies and philosophical debates about when (if ever) mercy should be extended, Sarat examines the issue comprehensively. In the end, he acknowledges the risks associated with mercy--but, he argues, those risks are worth taking.

Mercy's Trial

Mercy's Trial
Author: Sever Bronny
Publisher: Fury of a Rising Dragon
Total Pages: 658
Release: 2019-12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 9781775172949

Grasping at a sliver of hope, a group of friends undertake a perilous quest last attempted thousands of years ago . . . a quest to summon dragons. A ruthless enemy has conquered Augum's kingdom. Sheltered beneath a protective dome, the Academy of Arcane Arts stands as the sole remaining stronghold. And Augum and his friends are about to abandon it. Little does he know escaping will be the easy part, for a harrowing adventure awaits. Along the way, he'll have to evade an enemy that always seems one step ahead-while dealing with an ally questioning his leadership. But his greatest challenge? Learning when to show mercy . . . and when to drive in the sword. * * * Sever Bronny is the Amazon bestselling author of the epic coming of age series The Arinthian Line. Burden's Edge paperback page count: 656 Genres: Young adult fantasy, sword and sorcery, coming of age, fantasy, action and adventure, epic fantasy, mystery. Explicit language: Mild Violence: Mild to medium .

Just Mercy

Just Mercy
Author: Bryan Stevenson
Publisher: One World
Total Pages: 354
Release: 2014-10-21
Genre: Law
ISBN: 0812994531

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING MICHAEL B. JORDAN AND JAMIE FOXX • A powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix our broken system of justice—from one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time. “[Bryan Stevenson’s] dedication to fighting for justice and equality has inspired me and many others and made a lasting impact on our country.”—John Legend NAMED ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOKS OF THE DECADE BY CNN • Named One of the Best Books of the Year by The New York Times • The Washington Post • The Boston Globe • The Seattle Times • Esquire • Time Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he didn’t commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machination, and legal brinksmanship—and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever. Just Mercy is at once an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer’s coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice. Winner of the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction • Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Nonfiction • Winner of a Books for a Better Life Award • Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize • Finalist for the Kirkus Reviews Prize • An American Library Association Notable Book “Every bit as moving as To Kill a Mockingbird, and in some ways more so . . . a searing indictment of American criminal justice and a stirring testament to the salvation that fighting for the vulnerable sometimes yields.”—David Cole, The New York Review of Books “Searing, moving . . . Bryan Stevenson may, indeed, be America’s Mandela.”—Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times “You don’t have to read too long to start cheering for this man. . . . The message of this book . . . is that evil can be overcome, a difference can be made. Just Mercy will make you upset and it will make you hopeful.”—Ted Conover, The New York Times Book Review “Inspiring . . . a work of style, substance and clarity . . . Stevenson is not only a great lawyer, he’s also a gifted writer and storyteller.”—The Washington Post “As deeply moving, poignant and powerful a book as has been, and maybe ever can be, written about the death penalty.”—The Financial Times “Brilliant.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer

Justice, Mercy, and Caprice

Justice, Mercy, and Caprice
Author: Ian O'Donnell
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 337
Release: 2017-11-09
Genre: Law
ISBN: 0192519433

Justice, Mercy, and Caprice is a work of criminal justice history that speaks to the gradual emergence of a more humane Irish state. It is a close examination of the decision to grant clemency to men and women sentenced to death between the end of the civil war in 1923 and the abolition of capital punishment in 1990. Frequently, the decision to deflect the law from its course was an attempt to introduce a measure of justice to a system where the mandatory death sentence for murder caused predictable unfairness and undue harshness. In some instances the decision to spare a life sprang from merciful motivations. In others it was capricious, depending on factors that should have had no place in the government's decision-making calculus. The custodial careers of those whose lives were spared repay scrutiny. Women tended to serve relatively short periods in prison but were often transferred to a religious institution where their confinement continued, occasionally for life. Men, by contrast, served longer in prison but were discharged directly to the community. Political offenders were either executed hastily or, when the threat of capital punishment had passed, incarcerated for extravagant periods. This book addresses issues that are of continuing relevance for countries that employ capital punishment. It will appeal to scholars with an interest in criminal justice history, executive discretion, and death penalty studies, as well as being a useful resource for students of penology.

A Time for Mercy

A Time for Mercy
Author: John Grisham
Publisher: Anchor
Total Pages: 587
Release: 2020-10-13
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0385545975

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Jake Brigance is back! The hero of A Time to Kill, one of the most popular novels of our time, returns in a courtroom drama that The New York Times says is "riveting" and "suspenseful." Clanton, Mississippi. 1990. Jake Brigance finds himself embroiled in a deeply divisive trial when the court appoints him attorney for Drew Gamble, a timid sixteen-year-old boy accused of murdering a local deputy. Many in Clanton want a swift trial and the death penalty, but Brigance digs in and discovers that there is more to the story than meets the eye. Jake’s fierce commitment to saving Drew from the gas chamber puts his career, his financial security, and the safety of his family on the line. In what may be the most personal and accomplished legal thriller of John Grisham’s storied career, we deepen our acquaintance with the iconic Southern town of Clanton and the vivid cast of characters that so many readers know and cherish. The result is a richly rewarding novel that is both timely and timeless, full of wit, drama, and—most of all—heart. Bursting with all the courthouse scheming, small-town intrigue, and stunning plot twists that have become the hallmarks of the master of the legal thriller, A Time for Mercy is John Grisham’s most powerful courtroom drama yet. There is a time to kill and a time for justice. Now comes A Time for Mercy. Don’t miss John Grisham’s new book, THE EXCHANGE: AFTER THE FIRM!

Mercy

Mercy
Author: Jodi Picoult
Publisher: Pocket Books
Total Pages: 512
Release: 2020-02-25
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 198214565X

The #1 New York Times bestselling author and “master…at targeting hot issues and writing highly readable page-turners about them” (The Washington Post) weaves an unforgettable and moving novel of a small town gripped by a shocking and controversial murder trial. Cameron McDonald, the police chief of his small New England town, is forced to make the toughest arrest of his life when his cousin Jamie confesses that he has killed his wife. He claims that since she was suffering from a terminal disease, he ended her life out of mercy. Now, a heated murder trial plunges the town into upheaval, and drives a wedge into a contented marriage: Cameron, aiding the prosecution in their case against Jamie, is suddenly at odds with his devoted wife, Allie, who believes Jamie so loved his wife, he granted her wish to end her life. And when an inexplicable attraction leads to a shocking betrayal, Allie faces the hardest questions of the heart: when does love cross the line of moral obligation? And what does it mean to truly love another? Praised for her “personal, detail-rich style” (Glamour), Jodi Picoult infuses this page-turning and evocative novel with heart, warmth, and startling candor.

At the Court's Mercy

At the Court's Mercy
Author: KaShamba Williams
Publisher:
Total Pages: 308
Release: 2005-12
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

Nasir Johnson, a young man haunted by his past and torn between street life and fatherhood, just wants a normal life with his son and new fiancee. And just when it seems his dreams could come true, reality enters, in the form of his vindictive baby momma, who has teamed up with his own mother to regain the custody rights she so freely relinquished years ago. And he's being hounded by a stalker who threatens to deal the final blow to his dreams of a new life.

Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults)

Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults)
Author: Bryan Stevenson
Publisher: Ember
Total Pages: 290
Release: 2019-09-10
Genre: Young Adult Nonfiction
ISBN: 0525580069

Bryan Stevenson's incredible fight to end mass incarceration, excessive punishment, and racial inequality comes to life in this young adult adaptation of the acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestseller that was adapted into a major motion picture starring Michael B. Jordan, Jaime Foxx, and Brie Larson. In this very personal work--adapted from the original #1 bestseller, which the New York Times calls "as compelling as To Kill a Mockingbird, and in some ways more so"--renowned lawyer and social justice advocate Bryan Stevenson offers a glimpse into the lives of the wrongfully imprisoned and his efforts to fight for their freedom as the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. Stevenson's story is one of working to protect basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society--the poor, the wrongly convicted, and those whose lives have been marked by discrimination and marginalization. Through this adaptation, young people of today will find themselves called to action and compassion in the pursuit of justice. A portion of the proceeds of this book will go to charity to help in Stevenson's important work to benefit the voiceless and the vulnerable as they attempt to navigate the broken U.S. justice system. A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR A BOOKLIST EDITORS' CHOICE FEATURED ON CBS THIS MORNING A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR PRAISE FOR JUST MERCY: A TRUE STORY OF THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE: "It's really exciting that young people are getting a version tailored for them." --Salon "A deeply moving collage of true stories. . . . This is required reading." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Compassionate and compelling, Stevenson's narrative is also unforgettable." --Booklist, starred review PRAISE FOR JUST MERCY: A STORY OF JUSTICE AND REDEMPTION: "Gripping. . . . What hangs in the balance is nothing less than the soul of a great nation." --DESMOND TUTU, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate "Important and compelling." --Pulitzer Prize-winning author TRACY KIDDER "Inspiring and powerful." --#1 New York Times bestselling author JOHN GRISHAM

No Mercy

No Mercy
Author: John Gilstrap
Publisher: Pinnacle Books
Total Pages: 428
Release: 2014-07-30
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0786037237

The New York Times bestselling author introduces a take-no-prisoners hostage specialist in this series debut—a “fast-paced tale of violence and revenge” (Publishers Weekly). When those inside the corridors of power need help outside the law, they know who to call. Jonathan Grave, covert rescue specialist, always gets results. But perhaps what’s most valuable of all is what stays missing: No names. No feds. No trace evidence. When an Indiana college student is abducted, Grave and his team of operatives unravel a deadly scheme the government would prefer to keep hidden. But things get complicated when an investigative reporter—who happens to be married to Grave’s ex-wife—goes missing. Someone rich and powerful is willing to do anything to control a devastating secret. And that includes killing the people Grave loves most. “The launch of a really exciting series.”—Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author of House on Fire

No Mercy, No Justice

No Mercy, No Justice
Author: Brooks Harrington
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 270
Release: 2019-01-02
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1532645848

How can we be just and merciful? Are justice and mercy in conflict? Or are they aspects of the same truth? Christians in America are presented with two conflicting versions of justice and mercy. One version comes from the dominant secular narrative of America. Justice and mercy are contradictions. Mercy is devalued and discouraged. But within the counter narrative of God revealed through Torah, the prophets, and particularly through the life and parables of Jesus, justice and mercy are aspects of the same truth and way of God. There is no justice without mercy. There is no mercy without justice. In this book, Rev. Brooks Harrington draws on more than 40 years' experience as a criminal prosecutor, a pastor of an inner-city church in an impoverished neighborhood, and the founder of a legal ministry protecting indigent victims of family violence and child neglect and abuse. Through moving stories of women and children he has encountered, he shows the terrible toll of the dominant narrative's version of justice and mercy. And he offers Christians hope with new and startling insights into God's justice and mercy revealed in the parables of Jesus.