A Time to Kill Essay

A young black girl is walking down on a road on her way home from the store. Two white males in a truck drive up slowly behind her back and aggressively pick up the girl and rape her. She is found almost dead and rushed to the hospital. The two rapist was arrested and bring in to jail. On the way to the hearing right outside the courtroom, the father of the black girl steps out and fires 3 shot which killed the 2 suspects. The father was arrested and put into jail. The town is split into two sides. One side understands Carl because a lot of fathers would have done same thing in his situation, but on the othere side that contained most of the town people want him to be punished in the gas chamber. Jake Brigance, a young and idealistic, inexperience white lawyer is hired by a murderer, of the two rapist, who raped her daughter. Brigance an easy going liberal white lawyer in town, whose client always leaves without payment. Carl Lee Hailey, a black, charged of two counts of murder in the first degree, trapped in a judicial system that is greatly swayed by the racism of the world beyond. Jake Brigance as lead council, one of the few white southerners was given the impossible task proving that Mr. Hailey, innocent. Impossible, because of a mostly white county, and for a reason of win-at-all cost prosecutor, the racism and hypocrisy of the Mississippi citizens and judicial system. He intends to defend the accused with a plea of not guilty by insanity, trying to convince the jurors that Carl Lee had a momentary lapse in sanity after the rape incident. Jake Brigance becomes Hailey’s lawyer and realizes how complicated it is to deal with such a famous client. Jake and his wife, Carla are at first excited at first about seeking Jake on the news so much during pre-trial happenings. The excitement quickly ends. He has to fight against the District Attorney who wants to use this sensational issue to make him become famous. The case got national attention and a lot of different organizations get involved. Situation starts a lot of commotion with in the community, people who are against Jake defending Carl try to disappoint and hurt him and his family. In order to secure the welfare of his family they have to leave town. The trial begins amid much attention to the media and residents of the county- specifically the large black population. The highlight is when 2 psychologists on the defendant side and one on another. It was a big point for his client. He never gives up on Carl Lee’s case even if his life is at stake until the time came the final verdict. The courthouse is packed to see the attorneys’ closing speeches. Carl Lee comes out on the courtroom a free man. Jake Brigance is a person who wants change the judicial system, no matter what your race and what is the color of your skin justice should prevail. A father who wants to protect and seek justice for her daughter is a part of every human, that’s what Jake had felt so he accepted this case even if his client is black. In the final argument in the court which Jake’s character also believe that anybody who’s on his position would do exactly what his dealing. He believes that justice taking its natural place on earth. Jake feels compelled to take the case out of his conscience and guiltiness over an action he may have been able to stop, the shooting of the two white suspects. Jake a defender of the downtrodden, and despite to defend his client by any means possible, the fact that he knows that Carl Lee’s actions were premeditated is troubling for his character’s integrity. He believes that no matter how much the world tries to say they celebrate their diversity or look past the differences, you have to look no farther than a small county to see its truth. Jake and Carl became a good friend true and without prejudice.