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Adrian Mancilla

Professor Rachel Newlon

Rhetorical Analysis

English 121

May 11, 2020

Gideon's Army

Gideon's Army is a documentary based on the lives of Public Defenders in Alabama,

demonstrating their everyday struggles as public defenders. In the documentary, we receive a

deeper understanding of the lives of public defenders in their home lives and professional lives.

In the documentary we see the cases of young men who are at risk of going to jail/prison, these

young men who are facing charges by the state of Alabama do not have resources like many

Americans. They lack the financial resources to hire a private attorney. Such young men in these

cases have been set at a disadvantage since the beginning of their lives seeing their

socio-economic status, Demontes Wrights are facing charges of robbery as well as an aggravated

assault. This young man is 17 he does not have access to a private attorney, he is also a young

black man. The majority of his people of color do not have access to such things as legal

advocacy. not only leaves him at a disadvantage he also faces being targeted for general crimes

for appearing “suspicious”. Through the public defenders working these cases, the director of the

documentary demonstrates the struggle of being a public defender because they deal with 150

cases at a time not to mention they do not make much money. The Public defender's lives are

exemplified in this documentary, we see a true insight into what their lives are like. Being able to

see the life of Public Defender Brandy Alexander who is trying to fight for what is good in the
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world but can barely afford daily living necessities such as gas. We see how public Defender

June Hardwick can not even afford groceries for her child let alone herself.

The director shows the struggle of Public Defenders as they go through hell and back

every day to help those in need. These are highly educated people who could choose to go to a

big law firm and make six figures or more, yet they choose to stay for the people of Alabama.

Brandy Alexander is attempting to prove the innocence of a 17-year-old boy, who she believes

was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Not only working on him but as well as another 149

court cases all at once. The Director sent the message that public Defenders need to be

recognized for all their hard work as well as their dedication to the community. This is

demonstrated through public Defender June Hardwick who chooses every day to help those in

court who can not afford an attorney. Brandy Alexander puts her health at risk, being threatened

of being murdered as well as collapsing in court from being overworked. She worries more about

the liberty of the pole rather than her self. The documentary helps the audience see the struggle

first hand. Seeing faces helps one connect on a deeper level to not only the Public Defender but

those who are being tried. This is the best form of communication to the audience because of the

scenes showing the true emotion of these people.

As a member of the minority community for being a person of color, I can understand the

struggle of the Public Defender's life first hand. How they put others before themselves is a very

selfless act. Their relationships come second, their health comes second. Their wealth comes

second. We can see how dedicated these people are. I was shocked to learn that public defenders
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come second in their line of work, their workload is so high bringing them to a breaking point. I

was surprised by the fact that they do not make much money. The struggle harshly with finances.

Not only is there money pressure which is already stressful as it is but this is our stress. Public

Defender's career is explained very well in this documentary, as the audience we experience

emotions of fear for those who are being tried and most likely innocent. Travis William could

have been given the chance of freedom but was not because he could not afford Bail. he was

approved for the program of probation to have the charges dropped but because of finances, this

is not a possibility. He is now facing 10 years of prison day for day. As a 17-year-old I felt

scared for him. I couldn't imagine life in jail for 10 years. I don't know where I would be in life

after that.

The documentary used right-hand cases to demonstrate the lives of the people. Not only

the public defender but also the people of Alabama being tried. Source of the Public defender

county office show and an array of different court cases from drug, assault, and theft court.

Public Defender June Harwick has shown defending a woman in jail who is facing time possibly

but during this process has been evicted from her home and most likely has lost her career. She

was a certified mechanic but no longer able to practice. She has once tried for cocaine possession

a charge extremely difficult to return to a normal citizen life after that. She will never be able to

vote again. Another source used in the documentary is the director of the conference for

under-resourced public defenders. He seems to be the backbone for many public defenders they

fall on him in time of need. He encourages them to stay although acknowledges that it is a living

hell. He states that they are making a difference in the work which they are and encourages them
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to form joining firms because they are not going to make a change in the world although they

may have a better car than you or a battered house. They are not changing the world.

The development of the documentary is to show the impact public defenders have on the

community as well as acknowledging their mistreatment they are left without resources they do

have, socially this is impactful because we do to realize as a community that the people at such a

disadvantage. It shows how the people being tried are the lowest of the low in society no one

truly cares about them or they're well being. The culture around cases dealt by public defenders

is that they should do to be treated with so many resources because these people are not seen as

valuable to the country. Historically people who have been with fewer resources are people of

color and we can see that even in these modern-day court cases. We can still see the effects this

has one society these days. The documentary is based around the injustice for people of not only

Alabama but the country. The documentary gives us a deeper understanding of the people as well

as public defenders.