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Tom Chapman replaces Ted Pearson as the Monroe County District Attorney after he retires, and unlike his predecessor, Chapman’s stance on the McMillan case changes in response to the evidence that Stevenson provides. As a younger man with a previous career as a criminal defense attorney, Chapman’s fresh perspective is something that Stevenson hopes to capitalize on in order to free McMillan. Their initial meeting, however, seems to indicate that such a task will be far more challenging than Stevenson originally anticipated. Chapman maintains a professional attitude throughout, but he ultimately insists that, as the inheritor of the case, he will continue to uphold the State’s original arguments. This attitude suggests that he is more concerned with maintaining the status quo than uncovering difficult truths. Like the almost all-white jury who convicted McMillan in the first place, Chapman seems to accept Myers’s testimony because it offers a convenient answer to an extremely complicated case. He functions as yet another antagonistic force in Stevenson’s pursuit of justice for McMillan.
To Stevenson’s surprise, Chapman’s understanding of the case begins to change as a result of McMillan’s new hearing. Ralph Myers’s testimony exposes disturbing details about the initial trial which Chapman cannot ignore, and he decides to open a new investigation. Although this move partially works to protect his public image as a reputable DA, it also highlights his commitment to uncovering the truth. Chapman is humble enough to acknowledge his initial failures, and once he does, he becomes a quiet yet surprising ally for Stevenson and McMillan. Without his shift in perspective and willingness to reevaluate Pearson’s work on the case, securing McMillan’s freedom would have been virtually impossible. The significant character development that Chapman displays throughout the novel, however, is not enough to fully redeem him in the end. While he confesses to Stevenson that he has learned a lot from working the case and asks to shake McMillan’s hand, he ultimately refuses to accept culpability in McMillan’s wrongful conviction. This stance calls attention to the limits of his compassion and emphasizes the idea that the legal system has a long way to go before it is truly fair.
