As the jurors began arriving； they walked briskly through the rows of soldiers。 They clutched their summonses and listened in disbelief as the two groups screamed at each other。
The Honorable Rufus Buckley arrived in Clanton and politely informed the guardsmen of who he was and what that meant； and he was allowed to park in his spot marked RESERVED FOR D。A。 next to the courthouse。 The reporters went wild。 This must be important； someone had broken through the barricade。 Buckley sat in his well…used Cadillac for a moment to allow the reporters to catch him。 They surrounded him as he slammed the door。 He smiled and smiled and made his way ever so slowly to the front door of the courthouse。 The rapid fire of questions proved irresistible； and Buckley violated the gag order at least eight times； each time smiling and explaining that he could not answer the question he had just answered。 Musgrove trailed behind carrying the great man's briefcase。
Jake paced nervously in his office。 The door was locked。 Ellen was downstairs working on another brief。 Harry Rex was at ；the Coffee Shop eating another breakfast and gossiping。 The notecards were scattered on his desk； and he was
tired of them。 He flipped through a brief； then walked to the French doors。 The shouting echoed through the open windows。 He returned to the desk and studied the outline of his opening ments to the prospective jurors。 The first impression was critical。
He lay on the couch； closed his eyes； and thought of a thousand things he'd rather be doing。 For the most part； he enjoyed his work。 But there were moments； frightening moments like this one； when he wished he'd bee an insurance agent or a stockbroker。 Or maybe even a tax lawyer。 Surely those guys didn't regularly suffer from nausea and diarrhea at critical moments in their careers。
Lucien had taught him that fear was good； fear was an ally； that every lawyer was afraid when he stood before a new jury and presented his case。 It was okay to be afraid… just don't show it。 Jurors would not follow the lawyer with the quickest tongue or prettiest words。 They would not follow the sharpest dresser。 They would not follow a clown or court jester。 They would not follow the lawyer who preached the loudest or fought the hardest。 Lucien had convinced him that jurors followed the lawyer who told the truth； regardless of his looks； words； or superficial abilities。 A lawyer had to be himself in the courtroom； and if he was afraid； so be it。 The jurors were afraid too。
Make friends with fear； Lucien always said； because it will not go away； and it will destroy you if left uncontrolled。
The fear hit deep in his bowels； and he walked carefully downstairs to the rest room。
〃How are you； boss？〃 Ellen asked when。he checked on her。
〃Ready； I guess。 We'll leave in a minute。〃
〃There are some reporters waiting outside。 I told them you had withdrawn from the case and left town。〃
〃At this moment； I wish I had。〃
〃Have you heard of Wendall Solomon？〃
〃Not right off hand。〃
〃He's with the Southern Prisoner Defense Fund。 I worked under him last summer。 He's tried over a hundred capital cases all over the South。 He gets so nervous before a trial he can neither eat nor sleep。 His doctor gives him seda…
tives； but he's still so jumpy no one speaks to him on opening day。 And that's after a hundred of these trials。〃
〃How does your father handle it？〃
〃He has a couple of martinis with a Valium。 Then he lies on his desk with the door locked and the lights off until it's time for court。 His nerves are ragged and he's ill…tempered。 Of course； a lot of that is natural。〃
〃So you know the feeling？〃
〃I know it well。〃
〃Do I look nervous？〃
〃You look tired。 But you'll do。〃
Jake checked his watch。 〃Let's go。〃
The reporters on the sidewalk pounced on their prey。 〃No ment〃 he insisted as he moved slowly across the street toward the courthouse。 The barrage continued。
〃Is it true you plan to ask for a mistrial？〃
〃I can't do that until the trial starts。〃
〃Is it true the Klan has threatened you？〃
〃No ment。〃
〃Is it true you sent your family out of town until after the trial？〃
Jake hesitated and glanced at the reporter。 〃No ment。〃
〃What do you think of the National Guard？〃
〃I'm proud of them。〃
〃Can your client get a fair trial in Ford County？〃
Jake shook his head； then added； 〃No ment。〃
A deputy stood guard a few feet from where the bodies had e to rest。 He pointed at Ellen。 〃Who's she； Jake？〃
〃She's harmless。 She's with me。〃
They ran up the rear stairs。 Carl Lee sat alone at the defense table； his back to the packed courtroom。 Jean Gil…lespie was busy checking in jurors while deputies roamed the aisles looking for anything suspicious。 Jake greeted his client warmly； taking special care to shake his hand； smile broadly at him； and put his hand on his shoulder。 Ellen unpacked the briefcases and neatly arranged the files on the table。
Jake whispered to his client and looked around the courtroom。 All eyes were on him。 The Hailey clan sat handsomely in the front row。 Jake smiled at them and nodded at Lester。 Tbnya and the boys were decked out in their Sunday
clothes； and they sat between Lester and Gwen like perfect little statues。 …The jurors sat across the aisle； and they were carefully studying Hailey's lawyer。 Jake thought this would be a good time for the jurors to see the family； so he walked through the swinging gate in the railing and went to speak to the Haileys。 He patted Gwen on the shoulder； shook hands with Lester； pinched each of the boys； and； finally； hugged Tonya； the little Hailey girl； the one who had been raped by the two rednecks who got what they deserved。 The jurors watched every move of this production； and paid special attention to the little girl。
〃Noose wants us in chambers；〃 Musgrove whispered to Jake as he returned to the defense table。
Ichabod； Buckley； and the court reporter were chatting when Jake and Ellen entered chambers。 Jake introduced his clerk to His Honor and Buckley and Musgrove； and to Norma Gallo； the court reporter。 He explained that Ellen Roark was a third…year law student at Ole Miss who was clerking in his office； and requested that she be allowed to sit near counsel table and participate in the proceedings in chambers。 Buckley had no objections。 It was mon practice； Noose explained； and he weled her。
〃Preliminary matters； gentlemen？〃 Noose asked。
〃None；〃 said the D。A。
〃Several；〃 said Jake as he opened a file。 〃I want this on the record。〃
Norma Gallo started writing。
〃First of all； I want to renew my motion for a change of venue…〃
〃We object；〃 interrupted Buckley。
〃Shut up； Governor！〃 Jake yelled。 〃I'm not through； and don't interrupt me again！〃
Buckley and the others were startled by this loss of posure。 It's all those margaritas； thought Ellen。
〃I apologize； Mr。 Brigance；〃 Buckley said calmly。 〃Please don't refer to me as governor。〃
〃Let me say something at this point；〃 Noose started。 〃This trial will be a long and arduous ordeal。 I can appreciate the pressure you're both under。 I've been in your shoes many times myself； and I know what you're going through。 You're both excellent lawyers； and I'm thankful that I have
two fine lawyers for a trial of this magnitude。 I can also detect a certain amount of ill will between you。 That's certainly not unmon； and I will not ask you to shake hands and be good friends。 But I will insist that when you're in my courtroom or in these chambers that you refrain from interrupting each other； and that the shouting be held to a bare minimum。 You will refer to each other as Mr。 Brigance； and Mr。 Buckley； and Mr。 Musgrove。 Now do each of you understand what I'm saying？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Good。 Then continue； Mr。 Brigance。〃
〃Thank you； Your Honor； I appreciate that。 As I was saying； the defendant renews his motion for a change of venue。 I want the record to reflect that as we sit here now in chambers； at nine…fifteen； July twenty…second； as we are about to select a jury； the Ford County Courthouse is surrounded by the Mississippi National Guard。 On the front lawn a group of Ku Klux Klansmen； in white robes； is at this very moment yelling