1. pg. 480 “Have you managed to finally purchase a verdict?”

The Trellco CEO says this and shows the reader that these people are so routinely involved in corruption and injustice. The CEO’s never expected to win fairly; they always have wanted to puchase the verdict.

2. pg. 481 “And [Fitch] had never promised victory before, not like this. He’d always anguished before each verdict, always predicting defeat and taking pleasure in making them miserable. This was so uncharacteristic.”

Grisham is trying to say that this trial is very different this time. He’s foreshadowing the fact that Fitch hasn’t really purchased a verdict and is going to lose.

3. pg. 509 “It was the death certificate. Dr. Evelyn Y. Brant had died of lung cancer.”

This is the time the reader knows without a doubt that Marlee really did lie to Fitch. It’s also when the reader knows who the verdict is going to really be for.

4. 526 “They’ll say it was a runaway verdict from a runaway jury, and they’ll fix it. The system works most of the time.”

You mean the system that you’re completely disregarding right now? This is the entire embodiment of the theme of the book right here. It’s really ironic that Easter is acting like he trusts a system he’s destroying.

5. pg. 533 “‘This is unheard of,’ Lonnie said, leaning against the wall. ‘Not really,’ Nicholas replied. ‘Texaco got hit with a ten-billion-dollar verdict a few years back.’ ‘Oh, so this is a bargain?’ Lonnie said. ‘No,’ Nicholas said, standing. ‘This is justice.'”

Again, Easter blatantly lies to the whole jury. This is in no way justice. It never was justice. This isn’t even about justice. This is about power and control. And Easter is trying to exploit that.

6. pg. 5-6 “[Easter] was a liar, and he was hiding his past, but still on paper and on the wall he looked okay.”

This is the first time the reader knows that Easter is strange and mysterious. He’s a liar and purposefully hides everything he does because of something. This sets the stage for Fitch trying to figure him out for the rest of the novel.

7. pg. 56 “Contact with the jurors of any type or manner would result in stiff sanctions, monetary penalties, maybe a mistrial, perhaps disbarment and death.”

If only Harkin knew… The irony is that these jurors are constantly being contacted and influenced by Fitch in every manner.

8. pg. 65 “Every jury has a leader, and that’s where you find your verdict. Will he emerge quickly? Or will she lie back and take charge during deliberations? Not even the jurors knew at this point.”

This book is full of ironic statements. Grisham is almost teasing the reader with statements like this. He interestingly uses the word “she” as an example. However, none of the women jurors ever take charge. Perhaps he’s talking about Marlee as the master puppeteer…

9. pg. 293 “‘Know thine enemy,’ [Fitch] said aloud to the walls. The first rule of war.”

This shows Fitch’s strategy in influencing juries. He tries to know everything about them before he completely corrupts them. He treats his operations like a war against the jurors though, not the plaintiff.

10. pg. 446 “In this, the biggest tobacco trial yet, with the biggest plaintiff’s lawyers lined up with millions, his beloved Marlee would hand him a verdict.”

Or not. This shows Fitch has completely put his trust in Marlee. He’s practically surrendered everything to her. He no longer is the one in control.