What was a significant factor in the case that influenced the views on the death penalty?

The race of the victim and the defendant plays a critical role in shaping perceptions and outcomes related to the death penalty, as highlighted throughout "Just Mercy." This emphasis is grounded in the historical and contemporary realities of systemic racism within the American criminal justice system. Racial dynamics often influence both the decision to seek the death penalty and the likelihood of imposing it.

Statistical evidence reveals that defendants of color, particularly Black individuals, are disproportionately sentenced to death, particularly when the victim is white. This disparity raises important ethical and moral questions about the fairness of the death penalty and the extent to which racial bias affects judicial decisions. Bryan Stevenson illustrates how these biases permeate various aspects of the legal process, from policing to trial outcomes, thereby challenging the notion of equal justice.

In contrast, other factors, while important in certain contexts, do not capture this complex intersection of race and justice as holistically. For instance, the type of crime committed and the quality of legal representation are significant to legal outcomes, but they may not directly influence societal views on the death penalty in the same way that racial considerations do. Mental health can also be a critical factor in individual cases, yet it does not have the widespread systemic implications that racial factors exhibit within the broader conversation about capital punishment