How Carl Lee's Trial And How It May Occur In A Time To Kill

982 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Court role in the criminal justice system

There have been many cases in history where people have had unfair trials or trials that they had a very low chance of winning. It seems like there is no chance of then getting out of the situation due to the conditions of the time and place. However, there may be ways to escape this, and John Grisham writes about how it might happen. In his novel, A Time to Kill, the Southern landscape and social atmosphere shapes both Carl Lee's motivations to kill Cobb and Willard as well as the unfolding of his trial. Nevertheless, in spite of the South's racial injustices, Jake Brigance's capable skills as a lawyer lead to Carl Lee's acquittal. A Time to Kill takes place in the 1980s in the southern town of Clanton, Mississippi. Carl Lee Hailey, a black man, starts to get into trouble when he kills the two white men that raped his ten-year-old daughter Tonya (38). He felt the need to kill them himself since he thought they deserved to be killed didn’t believe that they were going to be unless he took it into his own hands. This is because they …show more content…

First, Jake is denied his request for change of venue to get a fairer trial (152). This means that the trial will be held around people that know what happened well, which could actually be an advantage for Carl Lee. Another thing that causes problems for Carl Lee and Jake is when Carl Lee fires Jake and hires a new lawyer. After this happens you can feel the tension between them when they talk to each other, even after Carl Lee hires him again. Carl Lee even wanted to fire Jake after they adjourned for the day because he said that he lost the trial for him (242). Soon after that, Jake his told to rush home because of an emergency. He arrives to see his house engulfed in flames as it burned the house down to the ground (243). Despite this happening, he manages to maintain his composure and go back to the courthouse for the trial as if nothing had

Show More
Related

  • TKAM: Literary Analysis Paper

    596 Words  | 2 Pages

    In To Kill a Mockingbird, a conflict that connects to the theme innocence should be protected is the death of Tom Robinson. Once found guilty, Tom Robinson was placed in prison. Because of his race, Robinson knew he would be sentenced the death penalty. Soon after being convicted, Robinson tried to escape. He knew that he didn’t deserve to be punished. While trying to escape, he was shot 17 times by p...

    Read More

  • The Scottsboro Trials, Brown v. Mississippi, and trial of Tom Robinson in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird

    1727 Words  | 4 Pages

    The purpose of this essay is to compare three very similar cases, the Scottsboro Trials, Brown v. Mississippi, and the fictional trial of Tom Robinson in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird; and to prove why the defendant of the third trial never had a chance. Each took place in the rural South in the 1920’s and 30’s and involved the unfair conviction of young black males by all-white juries pressured by the threat of mob violence. Each lacked the evidence sufficient for conviction, most especially for the death penalty. Last, heroes emerged from each trial and made small but solid steps towards equal justice for all.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Essay On My Cousin Vinny

    1195 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Judge had a second chance of making the defendants aware that Vinny may not be the best qualified at preliminary hearing. When once again Vinny was not ready to go through the process of trial. There is an unwritten requirement of a certain dress code as well as behavior in a court room. Which, Vinny is unprepared to deal with at this point of the movie. Vinny did not take the time to cross examine any of the witnesses or question any of the perceived facts

    Read More

  • Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird

    700 Words  | 2 Pages

    Robinson trial; (2) prejustice and its effects on the processes of the law and society; (3)

    Read More

  • Parallels between Scottsboro and To Kill a Mockingbird

    1478 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Scottsboro and Maycomb trials took place in the 1930s, where the trials both had identical causes with the same conclusion, though its a tragic event that has influenced the world today. The resemblance between Scottsboro and Maycomb leads the people into thinking about the Great Depression and the most infamous case that took place in Scottsboro, relating to Maycomb. Though there are no reasonable causes or hateful affairs between opposing characters, it seems like racism between whites and the Afro-Americans has started the conflict. Coming to white vs Afro-American cases, the jurors would always favor the white over the Afro-American because they believe its not right to do such thing as acquitting the Afro-American due to their old-fashioned values and prejudiced mind. Such tragedy happening in the history has influenced the world today in many ways, the novel To Kill a Mockingbird is one project that’s inspired to be written.

    Read More

  • What Does The Flowers Symbolize In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1095 Words  | 3 Pages

    Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is based during the era of racism and prejudice. This era is commonly referred to as The Great Depression and is during the mid-late 30’s. The novel is set in a small town and county called Maycomb, Alabama. The novel follows the story of the Finch’s and their struggle before, during, and after a rape trial that is set against an African American by a white woman and her father.

    Read More

  • Carl Lee Guilty

    824 Words  | 2 Pages

    Guilty or innocent, the verdict is up to the people. However, in a small, southern town where race is the main issue, guilty is the chosen verdict. In A Time to Kill, a novel written by John Grisham, Carl Lee Hailey, a black man who avenges his daughter’s attack and rape, faces death row for killing the two men that raped and beat his daughter. Some think he should be turned loose, while others think he should face the death penalty. Carl Lee’s actions do not portray him as a mad man, but a hero who avenged his daughter’s brutal attack. Carl Lee saved his county and maybe even the world from being hurt by the two men who hurt his daughter.

    Read More

  • The Characters Of Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird

    740 Words  | 2 Pages

    Tom Robinson is at the stand being questioned by Mr. Gilmer. Dill starts to feel sick because of how Mr. Gilmer is treating Tom. The narrator explains, “Well, Dill,after all he is just a negro” (Lee 266).This piece of evidence shows that prejudice is used as an antagonist in the novel by giving an unfair trial to Tom Robinson. The quote states “he is just a negro,” which shows that the trial is unfair just because of the towns racial views on people of color. The jury is all white and the case is black versus white. The jury is very biased towards the case. The prosecuting lawyers and defending lawyer are giving their closing statements. Atticus ends with a powerful speech that prove Tom is innocent and his views on race. The jury thinks over all the evidence for a long time and come to a verdict. The author of To Kill A Mockingbird quotes, “Guilty...Guilty...Guilty...Guilty…” (Lee 282). This quote shows the jury is very prejudice. There is more than enough evidence to prove Tom did not rape Mayella and that Bob Ewell beat her. Even though there is enough evidence to proves Tom’s innocence the jury’s verdict is guilty just because of their hate and their prejudice towards African Americans. Ultimately, prejudice is being used as an antagonist is very thoroughly shown throughout the entirety of the

    Read More

  • To Kill a Mockingbird vs. A Time to Kill

    1133 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... the defendants had to deal with a higher human authority, the judge and jury of their area. In To Kill A Mockingbird Tom Robinson had to deal with an alleged rape, and no matter what the evidence said, or how hard his lawyer worked, he was convicted and later died. Tom was falsely accused, and his death was untimely and could have been avoided. But he accepted his fate calmly, as if he knew no matter what he would be convicted. The defendant in A Time To Kill, Carl Lee was accused of murder of the two men who raped his daughter. Carl was found not guilty, even though he did kill those men, and later on in life will have to deal with his actions. Both men had to deal with what the court brought against them, and they both did. Carl and Tom dealt with multiple issues, but the prejudices of their race, and the time they were tried ultimately determined their fates.

    Read More

  • Racism and The Justice System in “A Time to Kill”

    1356 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the courtroom scene with Jake Brigance (Matthew McConaughey) the closing argument was well directed and made a bold statement. This not only made this scene memorable but made an...

    Read More

  • Racial Injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird

    1321 Words  | 3 Pages

    In a desperate attempt to save his client, Tom Robinson, from death, Atticus Finch boldly declares, “To begin with, this case should never have come to trial. This case is as simple as black and white” (Lee 271). The gross amounts of lurid racial inequality in the early 20th century South is unfathomable to the everyday modern person. African-Americans received absolutely no equality anywhere, especially not in American court rooms. After reading accounts of the trials of nine young men accused of raping two white women, novelist Harper Lee took up her pen and wrote To Kill a Mockingbird, a blistering exposition of tragic inequalities suffered by African Americans told from the point of view of a young girl. Though there are a few trivial differences between the events of the Scottsboro trials and the trial of Tom Robinson portrayed in To Kill a Mockingbird, such as the accusers’ attitudes towards attention, the two cases share a superabundance of similarities. Among these are the preservation of idealist views regarding southern womanhood and excessive brutality utilized by police.

    Read More

  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    775 Words  | 2 Pages

    In To Kill A Mockingbird Lee tells the story of a Mr. Tom Robinson who is an African American who is being charged with rape against a white women. Atticus is the lawyer who must defend Robinson in court. In the Scottsboro case a central figure was a heroic judge who overturned a guilty verdict against the young men. The judge went against the public in trying to protect the rights of the African American men. In reading the novel you learn that Atticus arouses anger in the small community when he tries to defend Robinson.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird

    1298 Words  | 3 Pages

    For example, Tom is put in a court case for a crime he does not commit. Mayella Ewell, a young white women, accuses Tom of sexual assault. This man is unfortunately victimized since his society does not believe he is innocent due to the color of his skin. Being the black man that Tom is, it is clear that “Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella opened her mouth and screamed” (241). There is no way that a black man’s word would override the voice of a white person. No testimony, evidence or speech can help Tom prove he is not guilty. Atticus understands that Tom is victimized by racism, so he explains: “When it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (220). It is both corrupt and cruel but that is how the injustice system works. Tom Robinson is powerless. Tom’s word has no power since his society will never believe him. His case is lost even though Mayella was the one to take advantage of his kindness. Plus Tom is never a real harm to the world for he is at a physical disadvantage. With his right arm missing it is almost impossible to cause destruction. As a matter of fact, Tom dies because of his disability. Since he knows he has no power to win his case he loses hope and attempts to escape prism. Tom is then shot multiple times and Atticus explains: “They got him just as he went over the fence…if he’d had two good arms

    Read More

  • 12 Angry Men: Conflict in the Courtroom

    587 Words  | 2 Pages

    Another conflict is that some of the jurors were hard/hot headed and stubborn. They refused to accept the stories that juror 8 proposed even when they knew he was right. It's a conflict that could've easily been avoided if half of them weren't so fulsome. The decision in the case could've been resolved sooner if not for their stubbornness.

    Read More

  • Sycamore Row Sparknotes

    821 Words  | 2 Pages

    The novel Sycamore Row, written by John Grisham, published on October, 22nd, 2013 the direct sequel to the novel A Time To Kill. The story unfolds in the 1990’s in the fictional Ford County, Mississippi. A dead man, a surprising will, and a black housekeeper…and it’s all up to a lawyer.

    Read More

More about How Carl Lee's Trial And How It May Occur In A Time To Kill

Open Document