Summary

“Mockingbird Players.” This chapter begins with Stevenson’s description of a phone call he received from a judge warning him away from defending Walter McMillian. After referring to how he had met with five men on death row (including Walter) and to the development of his long-term plan to provide legal services for “people on death row in Alabama,” Stevenson begins the narration of the crime with which Walter was accused.

Stevenson first describes how Walter worked his way into a position of relative respect in Monroe County, Alabama, the setting for the famous novel about racism and the law, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” He also includes a description of how the novel’s fame brought about the creation of a theatrical troupe, The Mockingbird Players, mandated to recreate the novel for the stage. Stevenson then narrates the beginnings of Walter’s encounters...