Who is Ricky Jackson, and what was his significance in the book?

Ricky Jackson is a crucial figure in "Just Mercy" as a man who was wrongfully convicted of murder based on unreliable witness testimony. His case underscores the severe flaws in the criminal justice system, particularly regarding the reliability of eyewitness accounts. For decades, Jackson maintained his innocence after being sentenced to death in a case marred by significant prosecutorial misconduct and the failure of the legal system to protect the rights of the accused.

His eventual exoneration highlights the long journey of seeking justice in a flawed system, which Stevenson passionately advocates for throughout the book. Jackson's story serves to illustrate broader themes of injustice and the need for reform in how the legal system handles cases involving marginalized individuals. His experience emphasizes the real-life impact of wrongful convictions on individuals and communities, making his significance in "Just Mercy" profound and illustrative of the book's central themes.