Just Mercy: Exploring The Theme Of Racism, Death Penalty And The Judiciary

Parvathy K Arun, Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad

ABSTRACT

Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy, in its contextual aspect, has both a legal historical look and a memoir in its storytelling. The movie talks about a pivotal moment in the criminal justice system of the United States. A “singular catalyst” for the inception of standing up against mass imprisonment and death penalty, Bryan Stevenson focused on those aspects that was critical in making a profound change in the legal system. As an influential figure, he was also a skilled litigator. He has contributed in bringing an era of ideology that resulted in the necessitated lasting reforms in the criminal system. Stevenson’s contribution become more relevant than ever when we are to consider and thereafter realize the ambit of change that could be possible and is also eminently needed in the structural system of awarding criminal punishments in the name of providing justice. He made a significant conceptual shift in perception of the Supreme Court, which thereby resulted in the much-needed change to a more legitimated view on the politics and scope of “harsh punishment.” The paper talks about the movie, “Just Mercy” which would help conceptualize and provide an insight to the concept of death penalty, injustice and the machinery of the judicial system regarding the same.

Keywords: Bryan Stevenson, sentencing, injustice, death penalty, imprisonment, racism, constitutional law.