---
title: 'The Toll of Representing Those on Death Row'
description: 'Bryan Stevenson, Executive Director of Equal Justice Initiative in Alabama, recently delivered the keynote address at the 30th anniversary celebration of…'
canonical: 'https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/the-toll-of-representing-those-on-death-row'
section: news
date: '2012-07-24T18:07:37-04:00'
updated: '2025-03-14T14:32:48-04:00'
source: 'Death Penalty Information Center'
---

! **Bryan Stevenson**, Executive Director of *Equal Justice Initiative* in Alabama, recently delivered the keynote address at the 30th anniversary celebration of the *Open Door Community* in Atlanta. Mr. Stevenson discussed how defending those on death row often takes a personal toll on those engaged in this work, even to the point of feeling "broken." But, he added, "I’ve learned some very basic things, being a broken person. I’ve learned that each person is more than the worst thing they’ve ever done. I believe that if somebody tells a lie, they’re not just a liar; if somebody takes something, they’re not just a thief; even if somebody kills someone, they’re not just a killer. And because of this, I believe that we have this need, this mission, this calling, to embrace them and to recognize this 'something else.'” *[Read full text of Stevenson’s remarks here](https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/documents/CelebratingBrokenCommunity.pdf).*

Bryan Stevenson is also a Professor at the New York University Law School.

(B. Stevenson, "Celebrating a Broken Community, Full of Grace and Love," Hospitality, July 2012, published by Open Door Community). See **[Representation](/death-penalty-representation?did=896&scid=68)**. Listen to DPIC's podcast [**on Representation**](https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/resources/podcasts#rep).