Summary

Chapter 8 is titled “Kennedy.” Kennedy meets the newest member of the public defender team. He is black and his name is Howard, and their first meeting is awkward. Kennedy, as a public defender, often meets her clients for the first time in the courtroom during arraignment with very little time to figure out what is best for them. That is the case with Ruth. She manages to get a few minutes alone with Ruth and convinces the judge to set bail at the value of the equity in Ruth's house. There are many whites in the gallery and they grow angry. At one point, Turk spits on Ruth. Kennedy talks only for a minute with Edison and Adisa. Adisa is rude, calling Kennedy “white girl” and herself “nigga” (147). Ruth is panicked when she realizes it will...