Expertise in the Field: Gerald ”Bo” King

This summer SHECP hosted several events with innovative and dynamic leaders doing anti-poverty work. On this episode of SHECP Talks we will listen in on a talk SHECP’s director had with Gerald “Bo” King, Federal Public Defender and Chief of the Fourth Circuit Capital Habeas Unit.

 

King begins by explaining what capital habeas law is. Next, he explains how he sees poverty and the criminal justice system intersect during capital trials. “The death penalty is a product of poverty,” King says. “Death sentences depend enormously on the lack of funding for defendants facing death sentence or even the imposition of death sentences. States that put resources into capital defense, have very few death sentences. They are really intertwined.”

 

King also discusses trends in capital trials that he has seen throughout his career, specifically, whether capital trials and executions are becoming more frequent. King’s work has somewhat transformed over the years from being primarily rhetorical to telling the story of his clients. By painting a complete picture of his client’s lives he helps the jury understand what led the client to a crime that, at first, might seem inexplicable.

 

Finally, King takes questions from students and concludes his talk by discussing how he maintains his hope, as a capital defender, despite the odds often seeming difficult to overcome. “There are inspirations and sources of hope everywhere, not hoping is just not an option,” King says.

 

For further information:

David Shipler book: The Working Poor

Gilbert King book: Devil in the Grove

Center for Death Penalty Litigation