Criminal State of North Carolina v. Joan Little
Jun 28, 2024
Karen Bethea-Shields, lawyer for Joan Little's self-defense case, discusses the challenges faced by Black women in the justice system. Topics include societal bias, legal strategies, and the emotional trial climax leading to Joan's acquittal.
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Joanne's Act of Self-Defense
- Joanne Little was a Black woman held in jail where a white jailer tried to sexually assault her.
- During the struggle, she grabbed an ice pick and fatally stabbed the jailer to defend herself and escape.
Prosecution's Racist Strategy
- Prosecutors aimed to prove Joanne was a promiscuous woman who lured the jailer to kill him.
- This strategy relied on racist and sexist stereotypes about Black women prevalent at the time.
Empathy in Courtroom Strategy
- Karen Bethea Shields used the physical jail cell in court to help jurors empathize with Joanne Little.
- The emotional impact made jurors cry during closing, showing the power of empathy in trial.