Andrea Lyon, author of Angel of Death Row

Nineteen times, death penalty defense lawyer Andrea D. Lyon has represented a client found guilty of capital murder. Nineteen times, she has argued for that individuals 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 change at redemption.

Now, for the first time, Lyon shares her story, from her early work as a Legal Aid attorney 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 drives 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 Lyons cautious optimism that her wrongful conviction would finally be overturned, allowing her to see her grandchildren born 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 Lyons unusual journey and groundbreaking career.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Andrea
• Lyon
• Angel
• Death
• Row
• Capital
• Punishment
• penalty
• law
• legal
• courtoom
• Kaplan
• Casey
• Anthony
• mothers

[whshark4]

Thanks for the insight, Andrea, particularly the heartwarming anecdotes about your daughter. Question: If she "went missing," would you wait 31 days before you (actually, your mother) reported it, during which time you partied with your new man, commemorated your now-beautiful life via tattoo, and did everything you could to keep your peeps from noticing the corpse-like stench in your trunk?

Methinks, Ms. Lyon, your opening statement is dead wrong. Some of your clients are indeed monsters.

[MrGrevy]

@llosapio No one has a problem with providing a defense you goofy twit, it's the dishonesty and 'win at all costs' attitude that people do not like. I see you are also plagues by that green goblin of jealousy, complaining about what 'rich people' get. Give it a rest you thug hugging sicko.

[zadeh79]

It's more than just a matter of an 'unfortunate enviornment', which is but a (unfortunate) 'tool' among liberals. People have the right to their own 'minds'. Although free will is dead, we have the right to our own permutations of interpretations and actions, and the resultant destiny's that follow. This lady's self-deluded and misguided attempts at 'civilizing' (more than half) the general public is disgusting.

[zadeh79]

I hate this bitch.

[llosapio]

@MrGrevy I don't think it's called jealousy; it's called injustice. Calling me a "thug hugging sicko " is so poetic, yet immature. Yes, wanting every American to get the same chance at a good defense is bad. Pardon me for believing in the Constitution.

And "winning at all costs" is often a prosecution tactic - which is why so many people in jail and on death row have been found to be innocent.Interestingly, no prosecutor or police official is ever punished, even when this is done knowingly.

[MrGrevy]

Disgusting, vulgar, unethical monster of a woman. Though she's been absent from the Caylee Anthony case recently, I suspect she still may rear her ugly head to save another baby murderer. Hope she gets disbarred. She's already made an absolute ass of herself so far. Utterly disgusting.

[llosapio]

I read this book and could not put it down. It is both very compelling and a very reasonable explanation for her passion for defending people. If you truly believe in America and our Constitution, then you won't have a problem with her providing a defense. After all, that is what our justice system is about. Innocent until proven guilty, with the burden on the prosecutor to prove guilt. Would you want it any other way? With Ms Lyon on the case, they get a smidge of what rich people get

[APRIL62318]

she has a daughter do they talk?

[dehitmen]

I'm a true admirer of your work Andrea.