Lawyer’s Reviews > Knight's Gambit > Status Update

I have just finished , « Smoke » and was indeed blown away by such genius thank you Mike for choosing this one that I probably would never have picked up even though I am a huge fan of Faulkner’s

Jane wrote: "I have just finished , « Smoke » and was indeed blown away by such genius thank you Mike for choosing this one that I probably would never have picked up even though I am a huge fan of Faulkner’s"

Yes, Jane. "Smoke" is a people pleaser story, peppered with Stevens' building cross examination, and the "gambit" of risking whether that smoke would still be in that little metal box. Over the whole of Stevens' career, he never haphazardly stepped into an out and out gamble. He never took an unnecessary risk. Stevens and I practiced law much in the same manner. My trial prep began with a complete review of the facts we knew and the many other facts for which we had no proof on which to form an opinion. It was an introspective process. At this stage Stevens and Sullivan appear as "Thinking Men." As our cases developed, we had to become "Men of Action." Stevens accelled as Man of Action. Neither Stevens nor I could win every case. Losing on the surface is a strike against a man's pride. But it was the consequences of loss on the lives of "our clients" that fueled our license to win. Our fights were rooted in our care and humanity for those when we sought to protect another human being. A lawyer's pride combined with arrogance was and remains a constant obstacle in finding Justice. Neither Stevens nor I were diminished by the desire for evidence. Neither were we hampered merely on the basis of reputation, but our specific reputations to always do the right thing. Justice is not measured in how many defendants are convicted. A District Attorney's job is to always do the RIGHT thing. We must never pursue a defendant that tends to free him. Withholding exculpatory evidence is the WORST thing a Stephens or Sullivan can do. Before a trial defense lawyers file Motions for Discovery to determine what evidence exists in the case against them. The actual rule is technically pot holes allowing legal evidence against the defendant. Evidence that could rush a case to settlement by guilty plea. Most younger prosecutors pursue the rule rigidly, unduly filling their cabinets with cases that could have been resoled so much more quickly. I trained up many young prosecutors. I encouraged and praised them when they relaxed how they shared case information with the Defense Bar. Lawyer Stevens is a lone wolf. He must build his cases alone. Do the leg work. Find the witness. Faulkner never reveals too much about evaluating a case and sharing portions of the evidence with the DEFENSE BAR. When Faulkner was writing many landmark cases involving providing the supply of "DISCOVERY MATERIALS." Those were wild and wooly days when cases were trials by AMBUSH. Neither side knowing what was coming against them until traps were sprung wide before jurors and the JUDGE.

One last point, although I retired from the DA's OFICE in January, 2007, I have maintained as many connections as possible should a STEVENS and Or SULLIVAN be required to proceed by a well reasoned GAMBIT. QUIXOTIC? NO. STEVENS AND SULLIVAN NEVER JOUSTED AT WINDMILLS. BUT WERE WE KNIGHTS? YES. WHEN JUSTICE CALLED.

I STILL HAVE MY FAVORITE SUMMER SHIRT. IT IS A BRILLIANT RED. THE SEAL OF MY COUNTY'S DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EMBROIDERED IN FINE GOLD THREAD. ON THE BACK IS A DEFINITION THAT PUTS THE DEFENSE BAR IN A FIT OF PIQUE.

IT SAYS: PROSECUTOR, DEF., N. A LAWYER HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD.

I WEAR IT STILL. AND WERE I ABLE TO VISIT OUR COURTHOUSE, I WOULD WEAR THAT SHIRT. I NEVER LOST A LAWYER FRIEND BY WEARING THAT SHIRT. THEY KNEW I WAS THE FIRST TO PROVIDE DISCOVERY MATERIALS. I GAVE THE WHOLE FILE TO THEM.

"JIM, HERE IT IS. THE WHOLE CASE. HERE'S MY SETTLEMENT OFFER. THAT,'S FIRM, UNLESS YOU KNOW SOMETHING I NEED TO KNOW."

IT WORKED LIKE A TOP. MOVING THE MOST DANGEROUS CASES TO THE TOP OF THE DOCKET, PROVIDING THE WAY TO JUSTICE IN THE MOST OPEN, FAIR, DOING THE RIGHT THING WAY.

LOV.
MIKE

Jane wrote: "I have just finished , « Smoke » and was indeed blown away by such genius thank you Mike for choosing this one that I probably would never have picked up even though I am a huge fan of Faulkner’s"
From the Office of Gavin Stevens,
Charles Mallison II, and Michael McConnell Sullivan, ATTORNEYS AT LAW,
JEFFERSON, MS.

APRIL 4, 2021

Dear Jane, my special reading friend across the pond,

It's lovely to have you along with us for
Knight's Gambit. It is truly most often overlooked by those who teach, review, or write literary criticism. Frankly, after the Master Works ended in the early 1930s, most of Faulkner's works were out of print. Of course, Faulkner continued his work in Hollywood, especially for Howard Hawks. I still guffaw that Faulkner wrote the screenplay for To Have and Have Not by Ernest Hemingway and for The Big Sleep Raymond Chandler.

Thank goodness that Malcolm CowleyThe Portable Faulkner. I keep a copy. On the book shelf in the sitting room. That book restored Faulkner to his proper place among the greatest American Literature ever written.

I remain excited that you and your students are shining a new light on an overly neglected gem. My sincere thanks for being here with us.

There will always need to be those unique men and women like me, my Nephew, CHARLES MALLISON II, and men such as Mr. Sullivan who have followed in Charles and my foot steps.

There are those who feel we are of a world much older than exists today. I say that is not so. We are laughed at. We are ccalled Knights pursuing idealistic dreams incapable of being fulfilled. Ideals? Without question.
Dreams? You only dream when you sleep. Some sleep to avoid the moral questions of how we find JUSTICE for the most vulnerable of our communities. The NAYSAYERS say this is an impossible GOAL.

Have you read Phineas Redux, by Anthony Trollope? Trollope wrote, "[The] difficult is done at once. The impossible takes a little longer." Yes? I do believe it.

Of course, it is easier to shunt a difficult thing. Put it in the rear of the filing cabinet and forget it.

Dear Lady I admire you for your studying and teaching of our old Southern world. We have had our evils, our DEVILS, to deal with, too long present but changing. For the better of all who live, love, and die here. Not the world that existed when this little book came out. That was a terrible time. A time when people judged others merely on the color of their skin, from traditions that should have been buried for well over a Century.

This is the code by which I live:
“Some things you must always be unable to bear. Some things you must never stop refusing to bear. Injustice and outrage and dishonor and shame. No matter how young you are or how old you have got. Not for kudos and not for cash: your picture in the paper nor money in the bank either. Just refuse to bear them.”
― William Faulkner, Intruder in the Dust

Well, it is Sunday here. Actually Easter Sunday. I am in my study. Alone. Working on the "T". I will have the HEBREW in the Greek.

Madame Professor, I sincerely hope we continue our correspondence for many years. Your words and thoughts engage me. Your letters keep me thinking when I wonder how much longer the The Imposible must be to win a better world.

Mankind can only endure so much. You, Charles, Mr. Sullivan, serve to cleanse the palate of my concerns for all who live on this fragile world.

It is most like cool sherbert out after dinner on the gallery, a warm summer's evening. I find it much more to my liking.

With all my Respect and Regard for you,

Gavin Stevens
Circuit Judge
Retired