Carl Lee Hailey quotes from A Time To Kill (1996)

Mr. Haley, before you stepped outside of yourself and watched yourself shoot Mr. Willard and Mr. Cobb, were you aware that if convicted, they could be free in ten years?

Carl Lee Hailey

Yes sir. I've heard some people say that. Yes sir.

Do you think men who kidnap a child should be free in 10 years?

Carl Lee Hailey

No, sir.

Do you think two men who rape a child should be free in 10 years?

Carl Lee Hailey

No, sir.

Do you think two men who hang a child should be free in 10 years?

Carl Lee Hailey

No.

Well, what do you think should happen? What would be a fair sentence?

Jake Tyler Brigance

Objection!

Do you think they should deserve to die?

Jake Tyler Brigance

Don't answer that, Carl Lee!

Do you think they should deserve to die?

Carl Lee Hailey

Yes, they deserved to die and I hope they burn in hell! [court audience is heavily agitated by the response]

Jake Tyler Brigance

We're going to lose this case, Carl Lee. There are no more points of law to argue here. I want to cop a plea, maybe Buckley will cop us a second degree murder and we can get you just life in prison.

Carl Lee Hailey

Jake, I can't do no life in prison. You got to get me off. Now if it was you on trial...

Jake Tyler Brigance

It's not me; we're not the same, Carl Lee. The jury has to identify with the defendant. They see you, they see a yardworker; they see me, they see an attorney. I live in town, you live in the hill.

Carl Lee Hailey

Well, you are white and I'm black. See Jake, you think just like them. That's why I picked you; you are one of them , don't you see? Oh, you think you ain't because you eat in Claude's and you are out there trying to get me off on TV talking about black and white, but the fact is you are just like all the rest of them. When you look at me, you don't see a man, you see a black man.

Jake Tyler Brigance

Carl Lee, I'm your friend.

Carl Lee Hailey

We ain't no friends, Jake. We are on different sides of the line, I ain't never seen you in my part of town. I bet you don't even know where I live. Our daughters, Jake; they ain't never gonna play together.

Jake Tyler Brigance

What are you talking about?

Carl Lee Hailey

America is a wall and you are on the other side. How's a black man ever going to get a fair trial with the enemy on the bench and in the jury box?. My life in white hands? You Jake, that's how. You are my secret weapon because you are one of the bad guys. You don't mean to be but you are. It's how you was raised. ****, negro, black, African-American, no matter how you see me, you see me different, you see me like that jury sees me, you are them. Now throw out your points of law Jake. If you was on that jury, what would it take to convince you to set me free? That's how you save my ass. That's how you save us both.

Carl Lee Hailey

What that Memphis doctor say about her?

She's doing good. Her jaw is healing. She can't run and jump yet, but it won't be long.

Carl Lee Hailey

How about the other?

There was too much damage. She ain't never gonna have kids.

Carl Lee Hailey

You know, I think about them too boys. Dead, buried, probably starting to rot. And I remember them walking into court... one proud, the other scared. I remember how they fell. One on top of the other, screaming and squirming and not going nowhere. God help me Gwen, but that's the only thought that give me comfort.

Carl Lee Hailey

Ask if he thinks I should go to jail.

Jake Tyler Brigance

Carl Lee, they amputated his leg because you shot him. He's the prosecution's witness.

Carl Lee Hailey

You're my lawyer ain't ya? Ask him.

Jake Tyler Brigance

Your Honor, one question.

Make up your mind, Mr. Brigance.

Jake Tyler Brigance

Deputy Looney, do you think Carl Lee shooting you was intentional?

No sir. It was an accident.

Carl Lee Hailey

Ask him!

Jake Tyler Brigance

Do you think he should be punished for shooting you?

No, sir. I hold no ill will toward the man. He did what I would have done.

Jake Tyler Brigance

What do you mean by that?

I mean, I don't blame him for what he did. Those boys raped his little girl.

Objection, your Honor! The witness's opinion on this matter is irrelevant.

Jake Tyler Brigance

Your Honor, I believe Deputy Looney has earned the right to speak here today.

Overruled. Continue.

Jake Tyler Brigance

Go ahead, Dwayne.

I got a little girl. Somebody rapes her, he's a dead dog. I'll blow him away just like Carl Lee did.

Objection your Honor!

Jake Tyler Brigance

Do you think the jury should convict Carl Lee Hailey?

Don't answer that question.

He's a hero. You turn him loose.

The jury will disregard...

Turn him loose!

Your honor, you silenced that witness!

You turn him loose!