All language subtitles for Just.Mercy.2020.HDRip.XviD.AC3-EVO

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All right,
let's chop and load.

Good evening, Officer.

Y'all need my license
or anything, huh?

No, that's not necessary.

That's a sharp-looking truck
you got.

Yes, sir. Thank you.

Those rims look like
they cost you a pretty penny.

Who you been working for?

Oh, no, sir.
I don't work for nobody.

Got my own pulping business.

You know, I clear out
all these trees around here.

So, you ain't got no boss
to check in with, huh?

That must be pretty nice.

Free to run
up and down the road,

wherever you want to,
whenever you want to,

in this fancy truck.

Hey, well, not if my wife
got something to say about it.

Yeah.

I heard that ain't stopped you
before, though.

Ain't that right, Johnny D.?

You want to make
a break for it? Hmm?

No, sir, I don't wanna
do nothing...

'Cause after what you done,

I'm looking for any excuse
to get this over with

right here, right now.

Sir, I ain't did nothing,

and I think y'all got
the wrong person here.

Y'all got me confused

with somebody. And I think...

I ain't got you confused
with nobody.

I don't have a thing
to do with this.

Sir, you got me
confused with somebody.

I ain't did nothing wrong.

We all know Monroeville

as the peaceful town

where Harper Lee wrote
To Kill a Mockingbird.

Last year, that peace was
shattered by a brutal crime.

On the 1st of November,
18-year-old Ronda Morrison

was found dead
at Jackson Cleaners.

Morrison had been strangled
and shot by Walter McMillian,

known locally as Johnny D.

McMillian was convicted
by a jury

who recommended
a life sentence.

But today,

Judge Robert E. Lee Key
overrode their decision

and sentenced McMillian
to death.

We promised the community

that we would find him,
and we did.

You commit a crime
like this in my town,

one way or another,
you're gonna pay for it.

As McMillian
awaits execution

at Holman
Correctional Facility,

a grieving community
can take some solace

in knowing that, today,

justice has finally
been served.

Thank you.

You got one hour.

Uh...

Hi, Mr. Davis. I'm Bryan.

Henry.

Um...

The Southern Prisoners
Defense Committee,

they sent me here
to tell you that,

that they don't have
a lawyer for you yet,

but they hope to soon.

You're not a lawyer?

No. I'm still in school.

Just interning here
for the summer.

So, you can't tell me nothing
about my case?

I mean,
I was supposed to tell you

that you're not
at risk of execution

any time
within the next year.

Can you say that again?

That you're not at risk
of execution any time

within the next year?

That's the best news
I've heard in a long time.

I didn't want
my wife or kids

showing up if I had
an execution date coming.

Now they can come visit.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Serious.

My mom made me
join our church choir

when I was, like, four.

I sang lead baritone
all through high school.

I played piano
at my church growing up.

AME?

God is good...

...all the time.

All the time.

A couple AME Choir boys
hanging on death row.

My mom would go trip.

Man, that's crazy.

What school are you going to?

I'm at Harvard.

Seriously?
You're going to Harvard?

That's white-boy status, bro.

What the hell are you doing
slumming it up in here for?

I'm in law school because
I just wanted to help people.

Just haven't figured out
the best way to do that yet.

Honestly, this internship

has been the best
experience so far.

Working on death row
has been your best experience?

You need
to get out more, bro.

Should've been done
two hours ago.

- I'm sorry, I didn't realize.
- Supposed to watch the clock.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Hey, hey, hey. Sir!

Calm down,
he didn't do anything!

You need to shut your mouth.

It's okay, Bryan.

Don't worry about me.
You just come back.

♪ I'm pressing on ♪

♪ The upward way ♪

♪ New heights
I'm gaining every day ♪

♪ Still praying as ♪

♪ I'm onward bound ♪

♪ "Lord, plant my feet ♪

♪ On higher ground" ♪

Mom still mad at you?

For what?

I don't know.

Maybe for rejecting
all those job offers

so you can be poor
in Alabama.

And Howie telling her

about that lynching in Mobile
didn't help.

What?

I said it happened
seven years ago.

Yeah, that made it better.

You two were supposed
to be on my side.

Pop, how are we
looking up there?

Just added
three quarts of oil.

But you should check it again
when you get there.

All right, thanks.

Talk to your mom yet?

What did those leaves
do to you?

You're not gonna say bye
to your son?

I know you got
your law degree now,

and you think you're grown,

but you're still my child.

And I'm the one
who has to deal

with your funeral arrangements

if you get killed down there.

Come on, Ma.

Oh, you think this is funny?

'Cause if you can't see

the danger
in what you're doing,

you need to ask Harvard
for your money back.

You used to be smarter
than that.

The first time
I visited death row,

I wasn't expecting to meet
somebody the same age as me.

Grew up on the same music.

From a neighborhood
just like ours.

Could've been me, Mama.

I don't wanna move far away
from you. I love you.

But you always taught me
to fight for the people

who need the help the most.

I am very proud of you, son.

I know your heart's
in the right place.

But it's not that simple.

What you're doing is gonna
make a lot of people upset.

You better be careful.

I will.

I promise.

There she goes.

You gotta be kidding me.

We had an agreement to rent
this space for two years.

You said it was a done deal.

That's before I knew
what you were doing here.

We are giving
poor people

their constitutional right
to counsel, Bill.

Do you mind explaining
to my son

what you think
is so wrong with that?

Eva, what's up?

Oh, Bryan. Thank God.

This is the executive director
of our organization.

He just got here
and was expecting

to move into the office
that you promised us.

You said
you were the director.

Director of Operations.

And you're making me
look very bad

in front of my boss
right now.

She said you were a lawyer,

but nobody told me it was
for murderers on death row.

We're providing legal services
to people who need help.

And they'll have to do it
someplace else.

'Cause I can't have
people like that around here.

Not everyone is in there
for a good reason, sir.

Y'all have a good day now.

What a piece of shit.

I'm so sorry.

This is not how I wanted
to welcome you here.

I will find us an office,
I promise you I will.

I just gotta
change my tactics.

It'll be fine.
We can work from anywhere.

Yeah,
we'll just have Kris

clean up his toys
in the living room.

- Right, Kris?
- Oh, yeah?

I'll think about it.

I'm sorry for cussing, baby.

It's okay.

He was a piece of shit,
though.

I was a psychology major

writing a paper
on capital punishment

when I met my first death row
inmate, Wayne Ritter.

He and his friend robbed
a pawn shop in Mobile.

His friend shot the owner
and they both got death.

Is he the reason
why you got into this?

His attorney was openly
in favor of the death penalty.

He thought
mad dogs ought to die.

A lot of the folks
on death row

either had
shitty representation,

or none at all.

So, I just started
calling every law firm

in the Yellow Pages,

just trying to find anybody
that could help.

I was averaging
20 rejections a day.

She was pretty stressed out.

I was just about to give up

when I got a call from
a Harvard lawyer saying that

he had just passed
the Alabama Bar

and had federal funding
to start a legal center

for inmates on death row.

I was in before
you even offered me the job.

And before you knew
I couldn't pay you anything.

What's that?

Oh, yeah, Doug doesn't know
about that part yet.

- Sorry, honey.
- All right.

How's it going, son?
You seem tired.

Okay.
Let's go brush your teeth.

Excuse us.

I'll make up the couch
for you, Bryan.

I'm excited about
what you're doing.

Me, too.

I should be in the log.

I'm scheduled
to see six clients today.

Well, I ain't seen you before.

That's because
I just moved here.

You really a lawyer?

Yes. I am.

Well, I'm gonna have
to search you.

Just go on in that room there
and take everything off.

Attorneys aren't strip
searched for legal visits.

Well, you ain't gonna
visit shit

unless you get in that room
and strip.

Let's go.

Pants and underwear.

Bend over and spread.

You're clear.

I fought in Nam.

First Cavalry Division.

Saw a lot of friends die.

Doctor said I got PTSD.

I did what they said I did.

I put the bomb
on her porch.

I know it don't make sense,

but I didn't mean
to kill nobody.

I think they're gonna
set my execution soon.

Last lawyer said

there ain't nothing
left to do.

There's always something
that we can do.

Whatever you did,
your life is still meaningful.

And I'm gonna do
everything possible

to keep them from taking it.

Now, tell me everything
that happened.

I was given
a court-appointed lawyer,

and he was pretty pitiful.

Never really talked to me
about setting up a defense.

I probably met
the dude three times.

Literally.

He told me that it
would be in my best interest

to plead no contest
to all of those charges.

I'm gonna plead not guilty.

I said I didn't do it.

I didn't have nothing
to do with that.

"You're 20 right now,
if you take this plea

and you do the whole time,

you'll only be 45
when you get out."

In the middle
of my trial, which only lasted

45 minutes to a hour,
which is unheard of.

He wouldn't let me
take the stand.

So, they ended up
finding me guilty.

The judge laughed at me
and said

rehabilitation was
a 70-year-old joke.

My lawyer,

he was there,
but he wasn't there.

It was like I was by myself.

Last lawyer I had,
sitting where you sit, said,

"Johnny D.,
don't worry about nothing,

everything gonna be
all right."

Then they put
that death sentence on me.

Family run out of money.

Money run out, he run out.

What you gonna do different?

Well, the first thing
we could do

is apply for a retrial.

I already did that.
They denied it.

It's right there
in your files.

Okay, then we can ask
for a reconsideration on that.

Then a direct appeal to
the Court of Criminal Appeals

and work our way up to
the State Supreme Court.

If we get denied there,
we could file a Rule 32.

Then a federal
habeas petition.

And if all that fails,
Mr. McMillian,

we could take your case

all the way
to the Supreme Court.

You don't know what you into
down here, do you?

You think all of them
fancy words

gonna get you somewhere
around here in Alabama?

All they gonna do is eat
you alive and spit you out,

just like every other
black man they do,

when they step out of line.

You coming around here
with them fancy suits,

talking all white,

these people don't give
a damn about that.

The only suit
they wanna see a nigga in

is the suit I got on.

Mr. McMillian, I can see
how that could be hard...

No, you don't!

No, you don't.
No, you don't. No, you don't.

You a rich boy from Harvard,

you don't know
what it is down here.

When you're guilty
from the moment you born.

And you can buddy up
with these white folks

and make them laugh,

and try to make them like you,
whatever that is,

and you say,
"Yes, sir. No, ma'am."

But when it's your turn,

they ain't got to have
no fingerprints.

No evidence.

And the only witness they got
made the whole thing up.

Ain't none of that matter,
when all y'all think is,

is I look like a man

who could kill somebody.

But that's not what I think.

You know how many people
have been freed

from Alabama death row?

None.

What make you think
you gonna change that?

I ain't doing this shit again.

- Guard.
- Mr. McMillian...

We done here.

Mr. McMillian, please.

I'm here to help.

What's up, Johnny D.?

Say hello!

How's it going,
my brother?

How'd it go?

How you treating
them needs, motherfucker?

Johnny D.?

Johnny D., you there?

'Sup, Herb?

Ray there?

Ray.

Unavailable at the moment.

Where you at?

Buckingham Palace.
I'm having tea with the Queen.

Oh.

She's a very nice lady.

I'll let you know
when we done.

Hey, Johnny D.,
what you think of the lawyer?

I think he a kid.

Don't know
what he's talking about.

Making all these promises

he ain't gonna
be able to keep.

I thought he was nice.

Nice?

The hell you want
a nice lawyer for?

Nice ain't gonna get you shit.

Look at Johnny D.

Nice as a puppy,
yet he in here with us.

Well, I didn't know

you thought about me
like that, Ray.

I mean,
just you nice and everything,

you not as nice
as La Toya Jackson,

but for an old man
on the row, you a'ight.

Hey, I thought you said
I was the old man.

Well, Johnny D. is old, Herb,
you more ancient.

Sorry to tell you.

Herb, turn that music up.

You got it.

All right. Here...

Bryan,

did you get any sleep?

I, uh...

I don't think
McMillian did it.

The State based
its entire case

on the testimony of one man.
Ralph Myers.

Myers spent most of his life
in and out of prison.

When he testified,

he was on trial
for a different murder,

which he ended up
getting 30 years for.

Seems like a pretty good deal.

In his statement,
he said that

Johnny D. approached him
at a car wash

and forced him at gunpoint

to drive to Jackson Cleaners
because his arm hurt.

That sounds logical.

When they get there,
Johnny D. tells him

to wait in the truck
while he goes inside.

And while he's waiting
for his kidnapper,

he doesn't run,
he doesn't go to the police.

Instead, he drives to the
liquor store for cigarettes,

and then comes back
to the crime scene.

Excuse me?

Myers hears gunshots,
goes inside

and sees the body
of Ronda Morrison

lying on the ground, face up,

and Johnny D.
standing over her with a gun

with some older white guy
who he claimed was in charge.

Anyone trying
to look for him?

Exactly.

Oh, wait. They have one other
witness to back his testimony.

A young black man
named Bill Hooks.

Says he saw Johnny D.'s
low-rider truck

leaving the cleaners
around the time of the murder.

And that's it.

That's all they have.

Hmm.

So, an 18-year-old white girl
is murdered in broad daylight

and the sheriff can't solve
the crime for how long?

Almost a year.

And then some other guy

who's charged
with a different murder

says that he can tell them
who did it

if he gets a lower sentence.

And the guy that
he says did it,

happens to be a black man
from a poor community

that no one would think
twice about.

There's gotta be
more evidence than this.

I want to set a meeting
with the DA.

Tommy Chapman just took over
for Pearson a few months ago.

He used to be
a public defender.

Maybe he's not in line
with the rest of 'em.

You visit
the Mockingbird Museum yet?

Oh. No, ma'am.

It's the old courthouse

Harper Lee's daddy
used to work in.

You can stand right where
Atticus Finch once stood.

Mr. Stevenson?

- I'm Tommy Chapman.
- Hey.

- You find us okay?
- I did.

- Good. Follow me.
- Yeah.

Thank you, Tracy.

A lot of people are very keen
to meet you, Mr. Stevenson.

Oh, really?

Well, you're a Harvard lawyer,

who's moved to Alabama.

You know, you start taking on
all these capital cases,

people just wanna know

what your intentions are,
I guess.

We're just trying
to give legal assistance

to people
who can't afford it.

Well, legal assistance
is one thing,

but trying to put convicted
murderers back on the street

is something else entirely.

Anyway,
you didn't come

all the way down here
to talk about that.

What can I do
for you today, Bryan?

I wanted to speak to you
about Johnny D. McMillian.

You know I wasn't part
of his prosecution, right?

That was way before my time.

And that's exactly
why I wanted to meet you.

You see, I've read through the
record quite a few times now

and I have some serious doubts

about the reliability
of his conviction.

If you could take a look

at the sections
I've highlighted here,

you'll see some problems
with Ralph Myers' testimony.

Man, this is one of
the most outrageous crimes

in Monroe County history.

Your client made
a lot of people very angry.

I understand that,

but there are some serious
problems with this case.

And I was hoping
that I can get your support

to figure out
what really happened.

I already know what happened.

Johnny D. McMillian
was convicted by a jury

of brutally murdering
a teenage girl

in my community.

And it is my job

to defend the integrity
of that conviction.

Even if that conviction
is based on false testimony?

You're the only one I know
who thinks that.

Then I must be the only one
who read that record

because it's pretty obvious.

That man caused
a lot of pain.

A lot of pain
for folks around here.

And if you go digging
in those wounds,

you're gonna be making
a lot of people very unhappy.

Well, it isn't my job
to make people happy.

It's to achieve justice
for my client.

Well...

Ralph Myers' two confessions

and a statement
from Bill Hooks.

I asked for copies

of all the police
and witness statements.

That's what you're holding.

This is a joke.
Where's the rest of it?

That's what's relevant
to the McMillian case.

If you want more,
you'll have to file

a discovery motion
with the court,

just like anybody else.

Thanks for coming by today,
Mr. Stevenson.

Expect that motion soon.

I'll look forward to it,
Counselor.

You oughta check out
the Mockingbird Museum

on your way out of town.

It's one of the great
civil rights landmarks

of the South.

Hmm.

Keep in line.

Helping a black man

convicted of killing
a white girl

is political suicide
in that county.

I'm sure he's being
reminded of that

by whoever got him his job.

The way he was talking,

I don't even think
he read the record.

That doesn't surprise me.

Hey, Kris, Bobby,
come on in and get your snack.

Okay.

I'm gonna stop
by Jackson Cleaners

on my way to meet his family.

Okay. If I don't hear
from you by morning,

I'll send a rescue party.

- I hope that's a joke.
- Me, too.

But just be careful, okay?

That's him.

- You the lawyer?
- Yes, ma'am.

My name is Bryan Stevenson.

I'm Johnny D.'s wife, Minnie.

Pleasure to meet you.

Hmm.

Thank you so much for driving
all the way out here.

Most lawyers
barely make time to call.

This is our younger son, John.
Our baby girl, Jackie.

I hope you don't mind,
a few of our neighbors

stopped by to hear
what you got to say.

Oh. Just a few?

Come on. You'll be all right.

Okay.

Hey, now,
we ain't gonna get nowhere

with everybody quacking
at the same time.

Now, let Mr. Stevenson talk.

Um...

It's a pleasure
to meet all of you.

Thank you.

Now, I know you all
have a lot of questions,

but I really would love
to hear from you guys first,

just to get
a better understanding

of your perspective on things.

Our perspective is
ain't no way

Johnny D. did this crime.

The morning
that girl was killed,

we was all having
a fish fry here

to raise money
for the church.

Johnny D. was here.

Morning till night.

Working on his truck
with John.

You were with your dad
that day?

Yeah, we was up
at 6:00 in the morning

to put the truck on the rack.

Jimmy was there, too.

Yep. We had that tranny
cleaned out by 9:30.

Now,
how he supposed to kidnap

some crazy white man
all the way in Evergreen,

then drive back
to Jackson Cleaners

to kill that girl at 10:15

if his truck ain't got
no transmission?

Hello.

How many of you all were
with Walter that morning?

My husband could have never
done this, no kind of way.

Whether we was
with him or not,

he is just not like that.

Well, everybody know
they went after him

'cause of that woman.

Sorry, Minnie.

It's okay.

It ain't no secret.

A few months
before the murder,

Johnny D. got caught

messing around with
a white woman in town.

When her husband
find out about it,

he made sure everybody knew.

People started talking,
and the stories kept growing.

He went from being a cheat,

to a drug dealer,

to head of the Dixie Mafia.

So, by the time somebody
call him a murderer,

ain't nobody thought twice
about it.

They can call it
what they want,

this is just another way
to lynch a black man.

Amen.

Amen.

There ain't no excuse for what my
husband did to me and this family.

Damn fool hurt me bad.

But he still
the daddy of my kids.

And I really don't know
what I'm supposed to tell them

about staying out of trouble

when you can be
in your own house,

minding your own business,

surrounded by
your entire family,

and they still going to put
some murder on you.

That's right.

It's not just Dad.

We feel like they put us all
on death row, too.

Baby...

I can only imagine the pain
that you're going through.

But I'm gonna
do everything I can.

The last lawyer was talking
just as big as you.

John...

Then they took
all our money and split.

Why you different?

Well, our organization
will cover all legal fees,

so none of you will ever
have to pay a penny.

Now, it's clear to me
that this trial

was constructed with lies,

and based off everything
that I've seen,

I think we could build a case

strong enough
to bring Johnny D. home.

And I'm not gonna stop
until I've done that.

Well, you seem like
good people to me.

But Johnny D.'s the one
you gonna have to convince.

I don't know
about the rest of y'all,

but I was sold on,
"Y'all won't pay a penny."

Amen.

Mr. Stevenson?

Call me Bryan.

Okay.

This is my friend, Darnell.

He has something he wants
to talk to you about.

Go on.

I think I can prove
he's innocent.

You heard of Bill Hooks,
right?

Yeah.

He testified that he saw
Johnny D.'s truck

at the cleaners that morning.

Bill didn't see shit.

He made the whole thing up.

How do you know that?

'Cause I was with him.

We was working
at the shop together.

- The morning of the murder?
- Yes, sir.

We was fixing the head gasket
on the Camaro

from 8:00 in the morning

till right after
we closed for lunch.

He was right next to me when
them sirens was going off.

Why would he lie?

'Cause the snitch
cut a deal with the cops.

They had him locked up
for burglary.

And the day he give his
statement, he walk out free.

All charges dropped.

We told
one of the other lawyers,

and they ain't do nothing
about it.

Hmm.

Would you be willing to sign a
statement we could use in court?

Police will see my name?

It'd be on the record.

Darnell, exposing yourself
like this is not easy.

But with your testimony,

we can file a motion
to reopen Johnny D.'s case.

Darnell,

we need you.

Okay, yeah.

Yeah, that'll do it.

All right.

Good morning.

Good morning.

- Thanks for seeing me again.
- Mmm-hmm.

I know the last time we met,

things didn't go
quite the way I was...

I can't believe
you met my family.

Drove down that dirt road,

crammed up
in that little house,

talked to all my people,

say you gonna try
to fight for me.

That mean a lot.

It meant a lot to me, too.

Oh, uh...

Minnie wanted me
to give this to you.

And if you don't mind,

I have something
I wanna show you.

It's a statement
from Darnell Houston,

saying that
he was with Bill Hooks

three miles away
at the time of the murder.

So, there's no way he could
have seen your truck there.

That's good, right?

That's very good.

I'm gonna submit this with
a motion for a new trial.

I know you talked to,
uh, Minnie.

She told you
what I did to her.

I ain't got no excuse
for cheating on a woman

good as that one,
good as she been to me.

I don't know why
she's standing by me.

She's standing by you

because she knows
you shouldn't be in here.

And so do I.

I know you didn't kill
Ronda Morrison.

And I can help you prove that
in court if you'll let me.

You know, you done met
my whole family.

You know everything about 'em.

I don't know nothing
about you, though.

- What would you like to know?
- I wanna know it all.

Like why you...
Why you doing this?

- Why am I a lawyer?
- No, no, no.

Why is you a lawyer
down here in Alabama,

taking these cases that ain't
nobody gonna pay you for?

I grew up down a road
just like yours.

I played soccer
in a dirt field

with the pigs and chickens.

Used to pump sewage
from my yard.

When I was a teenager,
my grandfather was murdered

over a black-and-white TV.

We kept waiting for someone
to show up to help.

They never did.

And that's when
I realized that,

outside my community,
nobody cared.

'Cause to them,
he's just another black man

killed in the projects.

I know what it's like
to be in the shadows.

That's why I'm doing this.

That's a pretty good reason.

Okay.

Okay...

Let's get to work.

Okay.

- Hey, yo, Johnny D.?
- Mmm-hmm?

You signing up
with that lawyer?

I'm gonna give him a try.

Seem like everybody on the
row working with him now.

I'm starting
to feel left out.

Is he really that good?

I hope so.

What you think, Herbert?

Should I just dump my guy
and make the switch over?

Herb, you hear me?

You there?

I'm here.

Herb, you okay?

They set my date.

Look here, Herb,
don't you worry about nothing now.

Everything gonna be a'ight.
Okay?

Ain't nothing over yet.

You got Bryan
working for you now.

I ain't...
I ain't like you guys.

I deserve what's coming.

All right, now, see, Herb...

there you go
talking out your ass.

Now, you fought
for this country.

And they threw you in the bag
like the trash.

That war made you sick
in your head, man.

You supposed to be
in the hospital.

Not here.

When I told the cops that
stopped me I was innocent,

do you know what they said?

"One of you niggers did it

and if it wasn't you,

then you taking one
for your homie."

Johnny D. prosecutor say
he know he killed the girl,

because of the way
he looked in his mug shot.

You don't deserve this shit
more than any of us, Herb.

A girl is dead
because of me.

That don't give nobody
the right to kill you back.

Herbert was 18
when he went to Vietnam.

He was the only survivor

in an ambush that killed
his whole platoon.

After that, he had
a mental breakdown,

attempted suicide,

and was sent home
on an honorable discharge.

Back at home, he continued
to suffer from nightmares,

crying fits,

running out of his house,

screaming "incoming"
to his neighbors.

His lawyer didn't even mention
military service,

or mental trauma to the jury.

A few months
after the trial,

he was disbarred
for misconduct.

'Course he was.

Okay, what can we do?

Well, since he's already been
through the appeals process,

the statute of limitations

is gonna make it hard
for a judge to listen.

We're gonna have to try
and make him.

I'll get started
on the motion tonight.

- Hello?
- Okay.

It's for you, Mom.

Oh, thank you, sweetie.
Hello?

You the bitch

working for that
nigger lawyer?

Who the hell is this?

The guy who put the bomb
under your house,

gonna blow your family
all to hell,

if you don't stop working
for that nigger Johnny D.

Everybody, out of the house.

- What's going on?
- I'll tell you outside.

They didn't find anything.

And they're sure?

They said they're sure.

They checked the
basement, too, like you said?

Said they checked
the basement.

Okay.

All right,
we're gonna move on now.

Okay, baby,
let's get you to bed.

Yo, come on.

When you asked me
to do this thing with you...

I knew that
I'd lose some friends.

Have people talk shit
behind my back,

or to my face.

I don't need people
to like me,

as long as I'm doing
what I'm supposed to do.

But threatening my family...

Eva, you know I'd...
I'd never blame you

if you needed to stop.

I don't want my son
growing up

knowing that his mom
stopped doing what was right

just because she was scared
of some crazy bigot.

Okay?

What are we gonna do
about McMillian?

We start the investigation
from scratch.

Find anyone in town
who's willing to talk.

Maybe people will stop
trying to kill us

once they realize
how charming we are.

I just wanted to
ask you a couple questions

about the Ronda Morrison
murder.

It's just, uh...

You were
on the witness list

for the Ronda Morrison trial
a few years back.

Sorry.
Can't help you with that.

Is there anything,
anything at all that you feel

- comfortable talking about...
- You know, look...

if you are not working
for that poor girl's family,

then I ain't got nothing
to say to you.

Sorry, sweetie.

Officer Ikner?

I ain't no officer no more.

I'm a lawyer representing
Johnny D. McMillian.

I understand you were the
first officer on the scene.

I was right.

The fish fry was on Saturday,
November 1st.

The same day as the murder.

They put these up
all over town.

I could kiss you, Deb.

We're planning
to grow this into something

the whole country
will be talking about.

And you can say that it all
started in your building.

What exactly kind of work
do you do?

We're just helping people.

- It looks good.
- It's perfect.

My client, Herbert Richardson,

was recommended
for a Medal of Valor

for disarming a bomb
in Vietnam.

We got a tip that
a few of your employees

could back his alibi.

Vivian Clark was
one of the teenagers

who were sexually abused
at your facility.

No, I'm not an attorney.

But I promise you, your son
is in very good hands.

We'll let you know.

Good talking to you.

Equal Justice Initiative.
This is Brenda.

Yeah. Okay. Yes. Uh-huh.
Just one moment.

Darnell Houston.

Hello, Darnell?

Whoa. Whoa, whoa. Slow down,
slow down, slow down.

Where are you?

- Are you okay?
- No, sir, I'm not.

Okay, Darnell, let's go talk
in the car. Okay?

How in the hell they locking
me up for perjury,

if alls I did was
say the truth, hmm?

I knew I shouldn't have
signed that paper, man.

Shouldn't have
listened to you.

No. What they did to you
was completely illegal.

Okay? Now, I'm gonna
talk to the DA

and get all these charges
dismissed.

This will never happen again.

Well, how the hell
do you know, hmm?

You can't control these guys.

They arrested me
in the middle of my shift,

in front of my boss.

I don't even know
if I got a job tomorrow.

I feel bad, what they doing
to Johnny D...

but I'm just trying
to survive.

I can't fight these guys, man.

Go on and find somebody else.

Listen, Darnell.
Think about Johnny D., okay?

Think about his family.
They need you.

Give me some time
to work on this.

That's my ride.

Tell Johnny D. I'm sorry.

I need to speak with you.

Oh, hey, Bryan.

Have you met Sheriff Tate?

Who ordered the arrest
of my witness?

When people make
false statements

concerning this case,

they're gonna
be held accountable.

You can't arrest someone
for perjury

without evidence that a false
statement has been made.

Hang on. Are you representing
Mr. Houston now, too?

Yes, I am.

His statement contradicts
Bill Hooks' entire testimony.

Hooks ain't the State's main witness.
Ralph Myers is.

Alabama Code 12-21-222

requires corroboration
of accomplice testimony.

So, without Hooks,

the conviction
wouldn't be valid.

You know, I went down to see

Ronda Morrison's momma
yesterday.

And she's in tears.

She kept asking me why
some lawyer from up north

would come down here

and make them relive
all this hell again.

Well, you can tell her
it's because

Johnny D. didn't kill
her daughter.

And whoever did

- is still out there somewhere.
- Mmm-hmm.

I know how desperate
you must be

to fulfill your fantasy
of who we are down here.

Just a bunch of corrupt
Southern racists

framing niggers for murder.

And you here to save the day.

Well, hell, you can believe
that if you want to,

but I know that
Johnny D. killed that girl,

and he's gonna answer for it.

And how do you know that?
You have no hard evidence.

You based your entire case

on the word
of an indicted felon,

who had every incentive

to tell you
what you wanted to hear.

Ralph Myers testified
on his own accord.

And it made no sense.

He couldn't finish a sentence
without contradicting himself.

Now, the charges against
Darnell Houston are baseless.

They'll never stand up
in court.

They should be
dropped immediately.

Okay.

Is that okay with you, Tommy?

Sure.

Well, it doesn't
really matter,

now the court denied your
motion to reopen the case.

Wait, what was that?

Oh, you didn't get the order?

Well, the judge is down
in Mobile now,

so, you know, sometimes
they have mail issues.

Listen, you can tell
Mr. Houston

the charges against him
are being dropped.

I can do that much for y'all,

but anything else will have
to be raised on appeal.

Thanks
for stopping by, Counselor.

Something wrong, Officer?

Step out of the vehicle.

I don't understand.
I wasn't speeding.

I said
step out of the vehicle.

I'll get out of the car,

but first can you tell me
why you stopped me?

- Get out of the goddamn car!
- Whoa!

Whoa, whoa.
Okay, okay. Hold on.

- Come on!
- Okay.

Okay. I'm taking off
my seat belt.

Get it! Come on!

Okay. I'm opening up the door.

- I'm stepping out.
- Faster! Come on!

Okay. I have nothing
in my hands.

Turn around!

- Yes. Okay. Okay.
- Hands on the car!

You don't have to have
the gun pointed at me.

I'm not a threat.

Shut your damn mouth, boy.

Hey, brother...

you ought to be careful
with your words

when you got a gun
at your head.

Let's go, John.

Why did you stop me?

We're letting you go.

You should be happy.

Even if they drop
them charges,

Darnell ain't gonna testify

after what they done
done to him.

I know we took a big hit.
We did. But we just need

to gather more evidence
for another motion.

No, no. They gonna block it.
They gonna block it.

If they can put me on the row
for a year without no trial,

they can do
whatever they wanna do.

They put you on death row
before your trial?

Yeah.

Sheriff drove me himself.

Said, "I'm gonna give you a
little taste of what it's like

unless you confess."

Why are you
just now telling me this?

This is how it is down here.

Been like this
long as I can remember.

They messing with you,
ain't they?

Yeah, they are. They're not
making it easy on me.

I got a plan for you, though.

I'm all ears.

Here's what I think
we should do.

I think you should
train up another lawyer,

'cause I'm gonna need somebody

just in case
they take you out.

Oh, it's like that?

Like that. It's like that.

Thought I had a friend.

Ain't no friends in here.

Cold world.

Yeah.

So, we ain't got Darnell.

What's the next move?

I think we should talk
to Ralph Myers.

- Walter...
- No.

Just listen to me
for a second.

I know it's risky,

but the only way to find out
what he really knows

is for me to get him talking.

I know what he know.

You know
what that man did to me?

Took my life away from me...

to save his own ass.

All he gonna
give you is lies.

I promise
I'm gonna be careful.

Get in line.

Mr. Myers.

You Bobby?

I'm Bryan.

Maybe later.

Okay. Do you wanna sit down?

You gonna buy me
a Coke first?

Or you gonna make me stare

at them vending machines
all day?

Sure. What do you want?

Sunkist orange.

Okay.

And some Jujyfruits,
if they got 'em.

I just want to say thanks
for meeting me, Mr. Myers.

Can we start by talking about

your testimony
against Johnny D.?

No.

I ain't talking about him.

That's the only reason
why I'm here.

You don't like it, leave.

Oh, don't look so sad.

We can talk
about other things.

I love to talk.

My wife says if I got paid
for every word I said,

we'd be a couple
of billionaires by now.

Oh, yeah?

How long you been married?

Long enough to pop out
a couple of kids,

and watch her
turn 'em all against me.

You got kids?

Me? No.

But Johnny D. does.

Yeah.

The thing about kids is

they ain't nothing
like having a dog.

It's a totally
different deal.

I wish somebody had told me
that in the first place.

And my kids, they think
they got it so bad.

They ain't seen nothing
like I seen.

Try making it as a foster kid
your whole life.

As soon as you figure out
one shitty parent,

they moving you to a new one.

Uh...

I'm sorry.

I'm sure that wasn't easy.

How many kids he got?

Johnny D. has three.

Mr. Myers, I know you made
a deal with the State.

But I don't think
they told you

Johnny D. was gonna die
because of it.

That must not be
an easy thing to carry.

And I'm hoping
there's a part of you

that wants to
make things right.

Can we please talk
about your testimony?

Hey. Hey!

From the day they moved
my ass into Escambia,

for something I'm telling you

I ain't had
nothing to do with,

all them police wanted to talk
about was Ronda Morrison.

It was Morrison this,
Morrison that.

Sometimes four or five of 'em
in the room at the same time.

They were questioning you
about her

the day you were arrested?

Alls I'm saying is,

ain't nobody cared
about a damn thing

besides who killed that girl.

And when people care
about a thing that much,

they'll do anything
to get what they want.

You know they'll kill you

if you get to the bottom
of this, right?

Wait. Where are you going?

We done here, Bobby.

Thanks for the Jujys.

Ready, boss.

Myers said
he was questioned

about Ronda Morrison

the day he was arrested,
on June 3rd.

But the only statement
they presented in court

was recorded
almost two months later.

Do you think they're hiding
his first statement somewhere?

If they are, it might be
at the Escambia courthouse

with the files
from his other case.

You know anyone over there?

I do.

That's everything
we got on Myers.

You can make copies
over there.

- Thank you, ma'am.
- Sure, baby.

He's cute. Married?

- Married to his work.
- Ugh.

How's Uncle Mickey doing?

Miss Miller.

Can I take a copy of these?

They ain't paying me enough
to stop you.

Did you find the transcript
from Myers' first statement?

- Yeah.
- Ah, thank you.

What?

I understand that, Sheriff.

That's Myers.

And that's what
I'm trying to tell you.

Because, I'm gonna
be honest with ya,

I don't know a damn thing.

Is that right?

And that's Tate.

Yes, sir.

It's righter than anything
I've ever said.

And you would
take a polygraph test

to the fact that
you do not know

who killed Ronda Morrison?

That's right, sir.
I will.

Would you face the person
who came in here and testified that you...

I will face any damn
body in this world on that,

because it's a stone lie.

And if you asking me to frame
an innocent man for murder,

well, that just ain't something
I'm willing to do.

Holy shit.

Herb, you all right
over there?

No.

Now, listen here,

you gonna have to get
your mind off tomorrow.

Bryan is working on that
as we speak.

Now, you know
how these courts here is.

They wait
till the last minute,

but you gonna get that stay.

Why did I make that bomb?

Herb,
don't go there now.

Why'd I do that?

I wasn't trying
to hurt nobody.

Herb, I know.

Why am I so stupid?

No, no, you ain't stupid.

That war got you sick,

and you still sick.

Girl wasn't supposed
to come by and pick it up.

Listen, Herb. I want you to...

She wasn't supposed to come by
and pick it up.

This what we gonna do, Herb.
We gonna slow your mind down.

Remember what
we practiced now.

What we do?

- Deep breaths.
- Yeah.

Come on, do that with me now.

Deep breaths.

In and out.

Now in.

Now close your eyes.

Get away from all this.

No more walls.

No more guards.

No more wars to fight.

Just you, out in the open.

Fresh air on your face.

Look at them pine trees.

They've been growing
since 'fore we was born.

And they gonna keep growing
even after we gone.

And they done been through
the same shit

we done been through.

But they still dancing
in the breeze.

Can you see 'em?

Yeah.

Good.

Now I want you to think
about nothing else.

Just keep your mind on that.

And everything
gonna be a'ight.

I need
Strickland v. Washington,

and the affidavit
from Herbert's sergeant.

Let's send it.

Now what?

We wait.

EJI.
This is Bryan Stevenson.

Mr. Stevenson,

the court has
just entered an order

in case number 895395.

The motion
for a stay of execution

and petition
for writ of certiorari

have been denied.

We'll fax copies of the order
over to your office shortly.

- Thank you.
- Thank you.

He asked me to be there.

Okay.

I'll drive you, then.

Come on, Herbert.
We gotta go.

Can... Can I say bye
to my friends?

When it get too much for you,

you take them deep breaths.

Let your mind go.

Wish I didn't have
to do this alone.

You ain't by yourself,
Herbert.

We all with you.

Ain't that right, Ray?

That's right, Herb.
You ain't rid of us yet.

You've been a good friend.

First time
in the chamber, huh?

Yeah.

Don't think too much.
You'll lose your shit.

Need anything,
Mr. Richardson?

You still gonna play my song?

Got it cued up and ready.

Thank you.

It's been a strange day.

More people asked
how they can help me today

than ever asked
in my whole life.

Do I look funny?

I ain't know they were gonna
shave off everything.

You look fine.

Well, most people don't get
to sit and think all day

about it being
their last day alive.

It's different than Nam.

Least I had a chance there.

I'm sorry.

You the only one
cared enough to fight for me.

Since I don't have family,

I told the army
to send my flag to you,

if that's okay.

I'd be honored.

Can you pray with me?

Of course.

They're ready.

♪ On a hill far away ♪

♪ Stood an old rugged cross ♪

♪ The emblem of suffering
And shame ♪

♪ And I love that old cross ♪

♪ Where the dearest and best ♪

♪ For a world of lost sinners
Was slain ♪

♪ And I'll cherish ♪

♪ The old rugged cross ♪

♪ Till my trophies
At last I lay down... ♪

You, Herbert Lee Richardson,

shall be put to death
by electrocution

in the state of Alabama

as ordered and decreed
by Judge Jerry M. White,

for the murder
of Rena Mae Collins

on August the 16th, 1977.

So ordered.

Mr. Richardson,

do you have any final words
you'd like to say?

♪ Oh, that old rugged cross ♪

♪ So despised by the world ♪

I have no ill feeling.

And I hold nothing
against anyone.

♪ So I'll cherish
The old rugged cross ♪

♪ The old rugged cross ♪

♪ Till my trophies
At last I lay down ♪

♪ I lay down ♪

♪ I will cling
To the old rugged cross ♪

♪ And exchange it someday
For a crown ♪

♪ To the old rugged cross ♪

♪ I will ever be true ♪

♪ Its shame and reproach
Gladly bear ♪

♪ Then he'll call me someday ♪

♪ To my home far away ♪

♪ Where his glory ♪

♪ Forever I'll share ♪

♪ So I'll cherish... ♪

We with you, Herbert!
We all with you!

We love you, Herb!

We all with you, Herb.

I'm walking with you,
Big Herb!

Believe in your heart, Herb.

We're with you, buddy!

Be strong, Herb!

♪ I will cling
To the old rugged cross ♪

♪ And exchange it someday ♪

♪ For a crown ♪

We love you, Herb!

Hey.

Well, I hope
this important news of yours

comes with some food.

'Cause I'm starving.

Sit down, Mr. Myers.

You was a lot nicer
the last time.

I heard the recording
of the first statement

you gave on June 3rd.

The one they didn't
present in court.

You told the sheriff
you didn't know anything

about Johnny D. or the murder.

You told him you didn't want
to frame an innocent man.

Do you remember saying that?

Now, what I'm wondering is,

how do you go
from knowing nothing

about a murder on June 3rd,

to becoming
the State's key witness

three months later?

What changed your mind?

What's that?

Intake log
from Holman prison.

On August 1st, 1987,

Sheriff Tate
transferred two inmates

from county jail
to death row.

Johnny D...

and you.

Did they move you
to death row

because you wouldn't testify
against him?

They executed Wayne Ritter

a few weeks
after you got there,

isn't that right?

I was in the witness room
when they killed

Herbert Richardson
Thursday night.

And it was the most
horrific thing

I've ever experienced.

I'm sure Ritter's execution
wasn't easy for you either.

They put me in the cell
closest to the kill room.

Middle of the night,
everybody started screaming,

banging on the bars.

And then...

then came the smell
of his skin burning.

I know that smell.

May I ask you what happened?

Seven years old.

I was sleeping
in my foster mom's basement

when her heater blowed up.

Catched my PJ's on fire.

I was screaming
for two minutes straight

before they found me.

Everybody knowed that I got
a fear of being burned.

They knowed
what it would do to my head

to be in a place like that.

I couldn't stop shaking
all night.

Curled up on the floor
like a baby.

Trying to breathe,
but every breath you take just...

You get another taste
of the man they killed.

You can't go through
something like that

and come out the same.

I know.

I called that sheriff
the next morning.

I told him...

I would say whatever he wanted
to get me out.

And he took my statement,

moved me to county
the next day.

Mr. Myers, we're going
to court very soon

to try to get Johnny D.
the retrial he deserves.

And I'd like you
to take the stand.

No.

No, sir. No, sir.

They are using you.

They're using you
to condemn a man

that you have much more
in common with than you think.

And if there's any part of you

that wants
to make things right,

this is the last chance
you're gonna get.

The tension is high
this morning

here at the Baldwin
County Courthouse

where a hearing
is being held

to see if the man convicted

of killing Ronda Morrison
deserves a new trial.

Miss Morrison
was only 18 years old

when she was murdered
at Jackson Cleaners

in Monroeville, Alabama.

Many have taken
the two-hour drive here

from Monroeville
to show their support.

Extra security precautions
were implemented

due to the highly emotional
nature of this case.

Ronda Morrison's parents said
they have no doubt

Mr. McMillian
is the man responsible

for the murder
of their daughter.

But members
of McMillian's family

claim they have the wrong man.

Much of today's hearing

is hinging on the testimony
of Ralph Myers,

a convicted felon,
who was the key witness

against McMillian
in the original trial.

What we'll be talking
about today is obviously

an emotional issue.

And if any of y'all
don't think you can maintain

a reasonable degree
of decorum,

then I would ask you
to leave now.

All right, if we're ready,
then, we will proceed.

Mr. Stevenson.

Thank you, Your Honor.

The State's case
against Walter McMillian

turned entirely on the
testimony of Ralph Myers.

There was no other evidence

to establish
Mr. McMillian's guilt.

No physical evidence
linking him to the crime.

No motive. No witnesses.

Only the word of one man.

We call Ralph Myers
to the stand.

Sir, please stand

and place your right hand
on the Bible.

You swear to tell truth,
the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth,
so help you God?

Mr. Myers?

Oh, yes. Sorry.

The guards got me up
about 2:00 in the morning

to get me out here.

Mr. Myers, did you testify
against Walter McMillian

in August of 1988?

Is that when it was?

According to the record, yes.

Okay, then, sure.
If you say so.

And what did you say to
the jury when you testified?

I don't think
I can fully remember, sir,

to be honest with you. Sorry.

No, that's quite all right.

I have a transcript
of your testimony right here.

At the trial,
do you remember testifying

that you were
unwillingly made part of

a capital murder and robbery
on November 1st, 1986,

when Walter McMillian
saw you at a car wash

and asked you to drive his
truck because his arm hurt?

Yes, sir, I guess so.

Do you remember saying
that you drove Mr. McMillian

to Jackson Cleaners,

subsequently went
into the building,

and saw Mr. McMillian
with a gun,

standing over the body
of Ronda Morrison?

Yes, sir.

Mr. Myers, was the testimony
that you gave

at Walter McMillian's
trial true?

I don't know.

You don't know?

I don't think I remember.

Mr. Myers, do you know
who Walter McMillian is?

Yes, sir.

Is he in this room?

Yes, sir.

Could you point him out
for us?

I'd like to ask you
that question one more time.

Was the testimony
that you gave

at Walter McMillian's
trial true?

No, sir. Not at all.

Order, please.

Did you see
Mr. McMillian on the day

Ronda Morrison was murdered?

No, sir.

Did you drive his truck
to Monroeville that day?

No. Never did.

Did you go
into Jackson Cleaners

and see Mr. McMillian

standing over the body
of Ronda Morrison?

Absolutely not.

Thank you.

No further questions,
Your Honor.

Mr. Myers...

how do we know you ain't upset
with the deal you got,

and you feel like somehow by

changing your story,
might help to get you out?

Because that just
don't make no sense, sir.

Who do you think is deciding
what happens to me?

If I live or die?

It ain't me.
It ain't Johnny D.

It's all y'all
that's deciding that, so,

how's my saying
what I'm saying

gonna help to get me out?

If anything, it's gonna
help get me to death row.

But I don't care. Y'all can do
what you want with me.

'Cause me...

I can look in your face

or anybody else's face,
dead eye to eyeball,

and say that anything
I told about Mr. McMillian...

was a lie.

He's here 'cause of me.

And I sure would appreciate
you sending him home

to his kids where he belongs.

We submit a copy
of the official log

from the police officer
that stopped by the fish fry,

confirming Walter McMillian
was there with his family.

Mr. Myers said that
the body was faceup

near the front counter.

But I found her facedown
in the back, by the bathroom.

Submitting exculpatory records
from Ralph Myers' stay

at the Taylor Hardin
psychiatric hospital.

Which the State
did not disclose

to defense counsel.

Mr. Myers was
my patient at the time

and he claimed
on numerous occasions

that he was being threatened
with the electric chair,

if he didn't say

what the authorities
wanted to hear.

The prosecutor
asked me to testify

that she had been drugged
from the front to the back.

And I told him,
"I ain't gonna lie in court."

And then, well,
a few weeks later,

I got fired
from the department.

All of the evidence
presented today

would have been critical
to the outcome of this case.

And its exclusion
is a clear violation

of Brady v. Maryland

and Mr. McMillian's
constitutional rights.

The truth has not been told
in this case.

And I understand
a lot of time has gone by,

but I personally believe

that it's never too late
for justice.

We ask the court
to grant our motion

and order a new trial
for Mr. McMillian.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Thank you, Counselors.

We'll reconvene
at a later date,

once I've had time
to look through everything.

All rise.

Tell you the truth,
I didn't think

he was gonna
go through with it.

Honestly, for a second there,
I didn't think so either.

I can't even tell you
how I feel right now.

Thank you.

We got a few minutes
if y'all wanna say hi.

We leave in five minutes.

What's up, old man?

- You did great.
- Thank you.

Mmm-hmm. Chapman ought to
call you tonight

and tell you that he's
dropping all them charges.

Yeah, I wouldn't
hold my breath.

Upon the reading
of my decision,

I expect the rules
of decorum in this courtroom

to be upheld.

Ralph Myers took the stand
before this court,

swore to tell the truth,

and proceeded to recant most,
if not all,

of the relevant portions
of his testimony at trial.

Clearly, he has either
perjured himself at trial,

or in front of this court.

After careful review,

it is this court's opinion

that conclusive evidence
has not been provided

that Ralph Myers perjured
himself at the original trial,

and that pressure put on him
since his trial testimony

could tend to discredit
his recantation.

Therefore, it is ordered,
adjudged and decreed

that the trial testimony
of Ralph Myers

is not found to have been
perjured testimony

and no new trial
shall be granted...

- It's not over.
- ...at this time.

Walter McMillian
shall be returned

to Holman
Correctional Facility

where he is to face death
by electrocution.

You can't do this
to us again, Judge.

Sit down, young man.

- John...
- This is my dad, sir.

John. I want you
to sit down now.

He ain't do nothing wrong.

Listen to your father.
Not here.

He ain't do nothing wrong.

Sit down right now

or you'll be arrested
for contempt of court.

Judge, just give me
one second. Please, Judge.

- Hold on one second.
- Sit down, John.

I won't
say it again. Sit down!

Not if you gonna kill my dad
for no reason.

Not if you gonna kill my dad
for no reason!

He ain't do nothing wrong!

Not in here.
Not like this.

You killing my family, sir.

You killing my family, sir.
You!

John!

Judge! Judge!
He's not resisting.

- John!
- He ain't do nothing.

Stop resisting.

You hear me?
Don't you let them get you.

It's gonna be all right.

Come on.
Let's get you home.

Come on, man,
don't make this hard.

Come on.

No. Don't do this, McMillian.
Come on. Go in.

Johnny D., no! No!

Johnny D., no!

Johnny...

Relax. Relax. Relax.

Give me your arm.
Give me...

Get him cuffed!
Get him cuffed.

Relax.

Good job.

Nobody wants to remember

that this is where
thousands of enslaved people

were shipped in and paraded
up the street to be sold.

Just ten miles from here,

black people were pulled
from their homes and lynched.

Nobody talks about it.

And now this black boy
from Delaware

walks into their courtrooms

and expects them to admit

they convicted
an innocent black man.

I promised
that whole community

I was gonna bring him home.

Then I just
made things worse.

I've heard
a lot of lawyers say

it's not a good idea
to get close to your clients.

Distance is healthy.

But working with you showed me
that that's bullshit.

You choose to get close
to every one of them.

And you love them
like they are your family.

And when your family
is hurting, you're hurting.

There is no way
that I could fully understand

what it is
that you're going through.

But I am pretty sure that

you mean a lot more to this
community than you think.

Walter, I'm so sorry.

Day I got arrested,
I thought I was gonna be okay.

'Cause I got the truth.

Soon as they talk to
everybody that was with me,

they gonna have
to let me go.

Then the police
keep calling you a killer.

Some white dude say
he saw you do it.

News people saying
you did it.

Judge and jury
saying you did it.

Now you on the row...

two, three, four years.

Your friends and your kids

ain't calling you
like they used to.

After a while,
you start wondering

what they think about you.

You start wondering
what you think about you.

The truth
ain't so clear no more.

But these last few days,

I can't stop thinking
about Myers up there.

Telling everybody
how it went down.

That's the first time
I feel like myself

since I've been locked up.

The first time
I remember who I is.

These fools gonna do
what they gonna do.

But if they take me
to that chair tonight...

I'm going out smiling.

'Cause I got my truth back.

You gave that to me.

To me and my family.

And ain't nobody
gonna take that from us.

You ain't quitting, is you?

No, sir.

Then there ain't no reason
for you to say you're sorry.

I know
how disappointing

the last hearing was,

but that's not where
this is gonna end.

We're preparing a motion
to submit our evidence

to the State Supreme Court
in Montgomery.

They have the power
to reverse the last decision

and force the circuit court
to give us a new trial.

You think they'll do that?

Nothing's guaranteed.

But I can't see
how an outside court

can ignore the evidence
that we have.

And then what?

Even if he do get out,

everybody but us
still gonna think he guilty.

If they can't kill him
in there,

they can still do it out here.

We've been worried
about that, too.

And we're working on something
to help get the truth out.

We're rolling.

Whenever you're ready,
Mr. Bradley.

Okay, Bryan,
you ready?

I am.

His name is Walter McMillian,

known to his friends
as Johnny D.,

and he's been on death row
in Alabama's Holman prison

for almost six years.

A jury was convinced
they got the right man.

But you may not be
after you watch this story.

The clerk who was murdered...

Hey, hey, turn that up!
I can't hear it.

Johnny D. says they
want to execute the wrong man.

You didn't kill
Ronda Morrison?

No, sir. I never seen Ronda
Morrison a day in my life.

God knows I ain't.

Did you ever go into
Monroeville on the day of the murder?

No, sir.

You never went in...

Never went
to Monroeville, period.

I told them
I had seen a young girl

laying on the floor
with her mouth open.

Johnny D. standing over her.

Was it true?

No, sir. Not at all.
Nowhere near true.

If an execution date
is set for McMillian,

and that day comes,

and it's time for him to go
to the electric chair,

will you be comfortable?

Yes.

I'd be comfortable with it.

Do you think
it's fair, just? He had his...

He had his day in court.

He, uh, was tried by a jury.

They heard his testimony
and they believed it.

Chapman says he's going

to indict Myers for perjury.

Not for what he said
at the trial,

but for what he's saying now.

Next, we'll be
presenting our evidence

to the Alabama Supreme Court,

hoping they'll see
what we think is very clear...

that Walter McMillian
is innocent.

McMillian's fate
is now in the hands

of the Alabama Supreme Court,

which is expected
to decide soon

if he's entitled
to a new trial.

EJI, this is Brenda.

Okay. I'll let him know.
Thank you.

The supreme court ruling
in the McMillian case

is ready to be picked up.

I'll be back.

A wave of shock

rolled through
Monroe County today,

when the Alabama
Supreme Court overturned

the circuit court's
previous decision,

and granted a new trial
to convicted killer

Walter "Johnny D." McMillian.

This was the first time
a court outside the county

was shown
the overwhelming evidence

proving Mr. McMillian's
innocence.

Though the court
granted him a new trial,

we believe he deserves
to be released immediately.

And that's exactly what we'll
be arguing at the next hearing.

Mr. Chapman, how do you feel
about today's decision?

I have no comment
at this time. Thank you.

I'm looking
for Attorney Bryan Stevenson.

- Mr. Stevenson?
- How can I help you?

Yes, sir, I've been ordered
to serve you this pleading.

Thank you.

Tommy Chapman is asking the
court to stay the proceedings,

so he can open up
a new investigation.

He's trying to buy time
to rebuild his case.

That son of a bitch.

- Bryan?
- You're asking the court

to keep a man on death row
you know is innocent.

Excuse me, Counselor?

I don't know
what you mean.

The supreme court supports
all the evidence we presented.

Every one of
your witnesses recanted.

You got nothing left.

Well, hang on,
my investigation's still in process.

And we both know you're not
gonna find anything.

You have any idea the bullshit

that I've had to put up with

since your 60 Minutes
story aired?

I got the governor on my ass,

got the NAACP
calling me a racist.

I got Ronda's family
checking in every five minutes.

You can't keep
an innocent man in prison

while you try to salvage
your reputation.

This ain't got nothing to do
with my reputation.

This is about the people
of this county

who have hired me
to keep 'em safe.

And what people are you
talking about right now?

The ones
from this neighborhood?

Or the ones
from the black community

you took Johnny D. from?

You think they feel safe?

Your job isn't to defend
a conviction, Tommy.

It's to achieve justice.

And as long
as you keep fighting this,

someone from your county

has literally gotten away
with murder.

You wanna come all the way
to my house at dinner time

just to tell me
how to do my job?

No.

No, I'm here
because I think you know

the difference
between right and wrong.

And you know Johnny D.
didn't kill that girl.

I'm filing a motion
to dismiss all charges.

And I think that
you should join it.

Next time you wanna
stop by my house,

appreciate you
calling me first.

Now, you get the hell
off my property, Bryan.

There's Bryan.

- What's going on?
- They won't let us in.

That boy is making us wait
out here for over an hour.

Excuse me.

What are you doing?

Just following orders.

This is a public hearing.

These people need
to be let in now.

Um...

Y'all can go in now.

Now that
there's no seats left.

It's okay.

We'll find room.

- Go on in.
- Y'all come on.

- Excuse us.
- Yeah.

Come on, y'all.

Right this way. Come on.

Okay.

Good to see you, sugar.

Okay. Thank you.
Yes, ma'am.

All rise.

The 28th Judicial
Circuit Court of Alabama

is now is session.

The Honorable Judge
Pamela Baschab presiding.

Please be seated.

We've got a full house,

so let's try to move through
this in a timely manner.

We're here
because Mr. Stevenson

has filed a motion
to dismiss all charges

against Mr. McMillian
in this case.

Now, Mr. Stevenson,
since it's your motion,

I'd like for you
to speak to it first

and then we'll hear
from the State.

It's easy to see this case

as one man trying to prove
his innocence.

But when you take a black man
and you put him on death row

a year before his trial...

and exclude black people
from serving on his jury...

When you base
your conviction

on a coerced testimony
of a white felon,

and ignore the testimony
of two dozen

law-abiding
black witnesses...

When any evidence proving
his innocence is suppressed

and anyone who tries to tell
the truth is threatened,

this case becomes
more than the trial

of just a single defendant.

It becomes a test

of whether we're going to be
governed by fear and by anger,

or by the rule of law.

If the people standing
at the back of this courtroom

are all presumed guilty
when accused...

If they have to leave here
and live in fear

of when this very thing
will happen to them...

If we're just gonna accept
the system

that treats you better
if you're rich and guilty

than if you're poor
and innocent,

then we can't claim
to be just.

If we say we're committed
to equal justice under law

to protecting the rights
of every citizen,

regardless of wealth,
race, or status,

then we have to
end this nightmare

for Walter McMillian
and his family.

The charges against him
have been proven

to be a false construction

of desperate people
fueled by bigotry and bias,

who ignored the truth in
exchange for easy solutions,

and that's not the law.

That's not justice.

That's not right.

I ask that this case

be dismissed immediately,
Your Honor.

Thank you.

Mr. Chapman,
what is the State's position

on this motion?

Your Honor,
may I approach the bench?

Yes.

Your Honor, um...

I'm troubled.

- You're troubled?
- Troubled.

'Cause I know that the
people in this community

want to go
to sleep at night

knowing that if someone has
committed a terrible crime,

then that someone
is gonna be punished.

But, um,

in this case...

Your Honor, I have, um,

taken another look
at the evidence...

and, uh...

Mr. Chapman, please?

And the State does not object
to the motion, Your Honor.

What?

To be clear,
Mr. Chapman,

are you joining the motion
to dismiss all charges today?

Yes, Your Honor, I am.

Order.

Please. Order.

Well...

y'all have made
my job easy today.

In the case of
The People v. McMillian,

the court hereby grants
the defendant's motion.

All charges against you
are dismissed, Mr. McMillian.

What does that mean?

That means you're free.

- I'm free?
- That means you're free and you get to go home.

Hey.

Your family's coming.

I have my family back.

We're all with you, brother.

Yo, Johnny D.!

I came out
of law school

with grand ideas in my mind

about how to change the world.

But Mr. McMillian
made me realize

we can't change the world

with only ideas
in our minds.

We need conviction
in our hearts.

This man taught me
how to stay hopeful.

Because I now know
that hopelessness

is the enemy of justice.

Hope allows us
to push forward,

even when the truth
is distorted

by the people in power.

It allows us to stand up

when they tell us
to sit down.

And to speak
when they say, "Be quiet."

Through this work,
I've learned that each of us

is more than the worst
thing that we've ever done.

That the opposite of poverty
isn't wealth.

The opposite of poverty
is justice.

That the character
of our nation isn't reflected

in how we treat the rich
and the privileged,

but how we treat the poor,
the disfavored and condemned.

Our system has taken more
away from this innocent man

than it has the power
to give back.

But I believe if each of us
can follow his lead,

we can change this world
for the better.

If we can look
at ourselves closely,

and honestly,

I believe we will see
that we all need justice.

We all need mercy.

And perhaps,

we all need some measure
of unmerited grace.

Thank you.

I taught you all that?

Yeah, you taught me
some of that.

I'm pretty good, ain't I?

Great job.

Hi!

Oh, Lord, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, Lord.

Oh, thank you, Jesus.

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