A Visit to the Georgia Resource Center

Richard Luong the senior director of development at Equal Justice Works, recently joined our CEO, Verna Williams, on a site visit to learn more about 2023 Fellow Justin McCarroll’s work and shared his experience below. Justin is sponsored by Greenberg Traurig. 

During a recent trip to Atlanta, Georgia, I found my feet planted next to Justice Thurgood Marshall’s at the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame. I reflected on his wisdom in the landmark case Furman vs. Georgia, where Justice Marshall advocated in his concurring opinion that the death penalty is unconstitutional under any circumstances, stating “in recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.” 

The Georgia Resource Center (GRC) is a nonprofit organization that embodies the virtues of Justice Marshall’s opinion. Its staff work to ensure fair treatment for those sentenced to death or life without the possibility of parole, advocate for justice, and push for systemic change in Georgia’s criminal justice system. I was fortunate enough to visit the GRC during this trip with Equal Justice Works CEO, Verna Williams, and Network Engagement Manager, Domonique Hamilton, to learn more about the project of 2024 Fellow Justin McCarroll.  

Justin and GRC Executive Director, Anna Arceneaux, led us through the hallways of their offices, where I felt the weight of their critical work. The GRC primarily provides legal defense, vital legal resources, and advocacy to individuals who have been sentenced to death, especially those who are in the post-conviction phase who have already exhausted their initial rounds of appeals. Within steps of the front door, visitors are met with powerful portraits of Marcus Wellons, Andrew Cook, Warren Hill, and Troy Davis – individuals executed by the state of Georgia. Their portraits watch over a row of file cabinets filled to the brim with records from death row cases taken on by the GRC.  

The organization’s efforts are aimed at creating a more informed and compassionate society that recognizes the importance of fair trials and the need to address racial and economic disparities in the system. For many on death row, GRC is their last line of defense, working to uncover flaws in their convictions and to ensure that their cases are reviewed with the attention they deserve.   

Justin McCarroll’s project expands upon the GRC’s foundational death penalty case work, extending its arms to provide direct legal representation, outreach, and advocacy to individuals sentenced to life without parole (LWOP) in Georgia. The LWOP prison population in Georgia has quintupled over the last 20 years, with Black prisoners making up 75%. 

What’s even more staggering is Justin is likely the only attorney in the entire state to dedicate himself full-time to providing representation to this population. Word quickly spread about Justin’s work through the extensive network of 183 jails and 34 prisons across 159 counties in Georgia. His office is lined with letters, pictures, and artwork from current and prospective clients. Justin’s efforts are bolstered by his fellowship sponsor, Greenberg Traurig, and attorneys at the firm dedicating pro bono services. From maintaining regular contact with clients to offering emotional support to their families, it’s clear that Justin and his team’s work is driven by a deep sense of humanity.  

In one instance, Justin shared the story of one LWOP client who was convicted of felony murder at the age of 16 – a conviction that has now been called into question by the examination of critically overlooked circumstances. At sentencing, the client was referred to as “permanently incorrigible” or incapable of reform, a powerful reflection of how so many involved in the justice system are stripped of their humanity in the United States – the only country in the world that permits youth to be sentenced to life without parole. Thanks to Justin’s efforts, his client’s sentence has been changed to reflect that the client will have the possibility of parole, and he will continue to advocate for additional sentencing relief.

In another, Justin shared with us his work to advocate for and secure a kitchen detail for one of his LWOP clients. Being able to prepare and cook food is a privilege that is not extended to many LWOP individuals in the Georgia system, and it was a dream of his client to be able to participate. Thanks to Justin’s compassion and care, his client’s life is enriched by joining the kitchen brigade, doing tasks so many of us take for granted. 

I’m grateful for Justin, Anna and the GRC staff for their compassionate pursuit of justice, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. The work they do is not only about defending lives; it’s about challenging a system that too often fails to live up to its own ideals. I’m excited to see Justin continue to make an impact in the lives of his clients, their families, and the justice system through his fellowship and beyond.