The Innocent Man: nonfiction by John Grisham

Miscarriage of Justice**** May 24, 2007

Well-known for his best-selling legal thrillers, John Grisham turns his hand to chronicling the life and travails of Ron Williamson of Ada, Oklahoma, who barely escaped execution for a crime he didn't commit. Ron's life starts on a promising note as he excels at high school baseball and aspires to a career in the major leagues. But his hopes are dashed by injuries in the minors. From this point on his life is all downhill. After many years of boozing, womanizing and mental health problems, Ron and an acquaintance of his, Dennis Fritz, become prime suspects in the murder of Debbie Carter, with virtually no evidence implicating them. The picture that emerges from Grisham's tale is one of police incompetence, horrible conditions in the Oklahoma prison system, an inadequate mental health care system or lack thereof, and how an innocent man can easily find himself on death row. After 11 years in prison, Ron is vindicated with the help of some dedicated lawyers, one good judge, and the unrelenting support of his two sisters. He escapes execution, gains some financial compensation but the years have taken their toll. He is diagnosed with cirrhosis and dies at 51. After reading this story it is difficult to have much faith in the US justice system and the reckless use of the death penalty.

And less we think this is an isolated example, Grisham cites numerous others. As I was reading this book the New York Times carried a story about the release of former Oklahoma death row inmate Curtis E. McCarty after nearly 22 years of incarceration, including 16 years on death row. According to the Los Angeles Times , "police misconduct tainted the case against a convict who did 22 years." It looks like Oklahoma has learned little.