Chapter 56 Summary and Analysis – Jury Selection
Spoiler Notice
This summary contains spoilers for Chapter 56 of Judge Stone by Viola Davis. If you haven't read the chapter, proceed with caution.
Summary
Judge Stone reflects that picking a jury is grueling work. Over three days, the court examines prospective jurors, dismissing those who are ill, infirm, or have closed minds (e.g., believing a defendant must be guilty). A list of twenty-eight competent jurors is compiled. Each side receives seven peremptory strikes. Prosecutor Reeves strikes Zuri Wheeler (young, college-educated, leans pro-choice), anticipating a not-guilty vote for Bria Gaines. Defense attorney Benjamin Meyers strikes Garner Lee Bowman, who glared at the defense table. The alternating strikes continue until fourteen names remain (twelve jurors plus two alternates). Judge Stone calls the process "Last One Standing." The jurors are sworn in, and the judge plans formal instructions but delays them due to juror fatigue. The bailiff is ordered to bring deputy escorts for sequestration. The judge warns the jury they must stay together at all times. An attempted joke about no group showers falls flat. Counsel is told to reconvene at nine the next morning. As Bria Gaines looks up, the judge feels a surge of sympathy but quickly hides it, affirming his commitment to running a fair, unbiased courtroom.
Key Events
- Jury selection spans three days; the judge removes biased or infirm candidates for cause.
- A pool of twenty-eight competent jurors is assembled.
- Each side uses seven peremptory strikes: Reeves removes Zuri Wheeler; Meyers removes Garner Lee Bowman.
- The strike process yields a final jury of twelve plus two alternates.
- The judge swears in the jury and gives preliminary sequestration instructions.
- The judge attempts a lighthearted remark to ease tension, but it fails.
- Bria Gaines makes eye contact with the judge, who suppresses his sympathy.
- The court adjourns with trial set to begin at nine the next morning.
Character Development
- Judge Stone: Demonstrates meticulous adherence to procedure. His internal reaction to Bria Gaines reveals a man fighting his own humanity to preserve judicial neutrality. He is self-aware of his faults but proud of his courtroom's fairness.
- Bria Gaines: A silent presence whose brief glance at the bench humanizes her and triggers the judge's empathy, foreshadowing her role in the trial.
- Benjamin Meyers: Strategic use of a peremptory strike to remove a juror hostile to the defense shows his tactical awareness.
- Reeves: Removes a juror likely to sympathize with the defendant, indicating his focus on securing a conviction.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Justice as a Game: The judge explicitly labels jury selection "Last One Standing," framing the legal process as a strategic contest between prosecution and defense.
- Impartiality vs. Humanity: The judge's effort to conceal his personal sympathy for Bria Gaines embodies the constant tension between judicial duty and natural empathy.
- Sequestration: The physical isolation of the jury symbolizes the high stakes of the trial and the burden placed on ordinary citizens.
- Failed Levity: The judge's joke that falls flat underscores the gravity of the proceedings and the wall that must exist between the bench and the jury.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter marks the transition from pretrial preparations to the start of the trial itself. It establishes the composition of the jury and the strategic moves of both sides. More importantly, it deepens the reader's understanding of Judge Stone's character: his commitment to fairness, his awareness of his own biases, and the psychological cost of maintaining judicial distance. The failed joke and the swift suppression of sympathy hint at challenges to come.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Judge Stone consider jury selection a "game of Last One Standing"?
Because each side uses its peremptory strikes to remove unfavorable jurors, leaving only those who were not struck. The final jury consists of whoever remains after the alternating strikes. -
How does Judge Stone's reaction to seeing Bria Gaines illustrate a central conflict?
He feels a surge of sympathy but immediately hides it, showing the constant struggle between natural human empathy and the requirement of judicial impartiality. This internal conflict is a key theme of the chapter and the novel. -
What is the significance of the failed joke about group showers?
The attempt to lighten the mood falls flat, emphasizing the tension and seriousness surrounding sequestration. It also highlights the gap between the judge's perspective and the jurors' experience, reinforcing the isolation of the jury and the gravity of the trial.