Defending Jacob

Judge French will preside over the trial. Andy describes the judge as “a publicity seeker, an intellectual lightweight, and in the courtroom a petty tyrant. Which made him the perfect embodiment of The Law” (249). Laurie looks like a “ghost” (251) of her former self, but his memories of her at 17 keep their love alive. In court, Jonathan announces that Andy will second-chair him in Jacob’s defense. He also asks that no information about a genetic predisposition to violence be presented without a hearing. The judge agrees to the motion. A jury is chosen, comprised of the nicknames listed in the title to this chapter.

The Barber family discusses Jacob’s popularity on Twitter: “The consensus was that Jacob was a little odd, possibly homicidal, definitely attractive” (260). Laurie notices a car outside the window. At nine, when Andy takes out the garbage, it is still there. He calls Duffy to run the plates, and they learn that the Lincoln Town Car is using stolen plates. Andy decides not to report it to the police.

As Logiudice presents his opening statement, Andy believes he is showing his own arrogance and desire to take down his former mentor (that is, Andy).