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

Walter McMillian is a Black man born and raised in Monroe County, Alabama. In the 1970s, Walter borrows money to start his own pulpwood business, which does not generate much profit but allows him financial independence. Though some white people in town find his success threatening, he is generally well liked, considered friendly, respectful, and generous.

Though he is married with three children, he is also well known for his extramarital affairs. Despite knowing how dangerous it can be for a Black man to have relationships with white women, he eventually has an affair with Karen Kelly, a young married white woman. This affair leads to his entanglement in the murder case of Ronda Morrison. Following a slew of false allegations, blatant lies, and manufactured evidence on the part of the county sheriff and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, Walter is convicted of Ronda’s murder and given the death penalty. While on death row, he meets Stevenson, who takes on the case to overturn Walter’s conviction.

After years of work to prove his innocence, Stevenson finally sees Walter exonerated and released from prison in March 1993. Following his release, Walter joins Stevenson on many television interviews and talks at conferences. He returns to his home and business in Monroe County despite Stevenson's fears that the community will not welcome him back. His wife leaves him, but he remains cheerful. Eventually, he shows signs of dementia due to the extensive trauma he suffered and is placed in a care facility. His dementia causes confusion and he believes he has been sent back to death row. He spends the last two years of his life living with his sister, dying on September 11, 2013.

Ralph Myers is the principal witness in the case against Walter McMillian. He is a white man with an extensive criminal record, who associates with Karen Kelly following Karen’s relationship with Walter. Karen and Ralph become involved in dealing drugs, and both are implicated in the murder of a white woman named Vickie Lynn Pittman. When Ralph is questioned about the murder of Vickie Pittman, he admits to being involved but also falsely claims that he and Walter were involved in the murder of Ronda Morrison. This claim sets off the troubles that follow Walter for the rest of his life.

Ralph claims that Walter made him an accomplice by forcing him to drive the truck when Walter went to the cleaners to kill Ronda. However, before the trial, he admits to the police that he lied about everything and wants to recant his statement. But Sheriff Tate places Ralph on death row, and the experience is so horrifying that he changes his mind again and agrees to say whatever the police want him to.

Later, Ralph is in group therapy while in prison, and his group convinces him that he needs to fix his mistakes and the harm he caused. As Stevenson investigates the case for Walter’s appeal, Ralph once again changes his story, telling Stevenson that he lied and that he now wants to tell the truth. He testifies in court that he lied about everything, that neither he nor Walter had anything to do with Ronda’s murder, and that he has no idea who the real perpetrator was. Perhaps trying to redeem himself, he does not waver even when pressed by the prosecutor.

Sheriff Thomas Tate is the newly elected county sheriff of Monroe County when Ronda Morrison is murdered. When the community criticizes him for failing to find her murderer quickly, he and the DA decide to arrest and charge Walter McMillian solely on the word of Ralph Myers. When Tate arrives to arrest Walter, he attacks him with racial slurs and threats of violence and lynching. Throughout the book, Tate makes no effort to disguise his racism.

Throughout the case and trial, Sheriff Tate resorts to threatening Ralph and bribing Bill Hooks to build the case against Walter. Stevenson proves this during his investigation and effort to overturn Walter’s conviction and sentence. Tate shows no remorse or guilt for his actions. After Walter is exonerated and released from death row in 1993, he sues state and local officials, including Sheriff Tate, for misconduct. Shockingly, despite this, Tate is later reelected.