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Published by Kaplan Publishing
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Nineteen times, Andrea D. Lyon has represented a client found guilty of
capital murder. Nineteen times, she has argued for that individual's
life to be spared. Nineteen times, she has succeeded. Dubbed the "Angel of Death Row" by the Chicago Tribune, Lyon
was the first woman to serve as lead attorney in a death penalty case.
Throughout her career, she has defended those accused of heinous acts
and argued that, no matter their guilt or innocence, they deserved a
chance at redemption. Now, for the first time, Lyon shares her story, from her early work
at the public defender's office to her founding of the Center for
Justice in Capital Cases. Full of courtroom drama, tragedy, and
redemption, Angel of Death Row is a remarkable inside look at
what drive Lyon to defend those who seem indefensible -- and to win. There was Annette who was suspected of murdering her own daughter.
There was Patrick, the convicted murderer who thirsted for knowledge
and shared his love of books with Lyon when she visited him in jail.
There was Lonnie, whose mental illness made him nearly impossible to
save until the daughter who remembered his better self spoke on his
behalf. There was Deirdre, who shared Lyon's cautious optimism that her
wrongful conviction would be overturned and she would finally meet the
grandchildren whose births she missed while she was in prison. And
there was Madison Hobley, the man whose name made international
headlines when he was wrongfully charged with the murder of his family
and sentenced to death. These clients trusted Lyon with their stories -- and their lives. Driven by an overwhelming sense of justice, fairness, and morality, she fought for them in the courtroom and in the raucous streets, staying by their sides as they struggled through real tragedy and triumphed in startling ways. Angel of Death Row is the compelling memoir of Lyon's unusual journey and groundbreaking career. pub date: 2010-01-05 | hardcover | 9781607144342 |