Chapter 27 Summary

One week before the trial opens, Clanton prepares to be in the national spotlight. Public facilities are being cleaned and rejuvenated, and merchants are ordering extra inventory. Judge Noose has carefully orchestrated the calling of the jury in order to avoid any missteps that might later cause his decision to be overturned. One hundred and fifty potential jurors have been randomly drawn from voter rolls, picked from a drum by two clerks, one white and one black. Ozzie is instructed in how his men are to serve the summonses, not mentioning the name of the case or anything about it. All are to be delivered between 4:00 p.m. and midnight, and the names are to remain confidential until Wednesday. Jake appears within seconds to flirt with the secretaries in the clerk's office and demand the juror list from the clerk, Jean Gillespie. She...