Bryan Stevenson

He had shackles on his ankles.

It took them 10 minutes to unchain him.

And he walked over to me and I was so overwhelmed.

I just started to apologize.

I said, I'm so sorry.

I'm just a law student.

I don't know anything about the death penalty.

I don't know anything about criminal procedure.

I don't know anything about appellate procedure, civil procedure.

And then I remembered what I was supposed to say.

I said, but they sent me down here to tell you that you're not at risk of execution anytime in the next year.

And when I said that, the man said, wait, wait, wait, say that again.

I said, you're not at risk of execution anytime in the next year.

And the man said, wait, wait, say that again.

I said, you're not at risk of execution anytime in the next year.

And that's when this man hugged me and he said, thank you, thank you, thank you.

He said, you're the first person I've met in the two years I've been on death row who's not a death row prisoner or death row guard.

He said, I've been talking to my wife and kids, but I haven't let them come and visit because I was afraid I'd have an execution date and I don't want them to have to deal with that.

He said, now because of you, I'm going to see my wife.

I'm going to see my kids.