48 pages 1 hour read

John Grisham

A Time to Kill

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1989

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapters 31-44

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 31 Summary

Jake visits the Smithfield courthouse, an hour away from Clanton, where Noose is presiding. During a recess, Jake apprises Noose of the burning crosses on the jurors’ lawns. Noose agrees to dismiss those 20 prospective jurors, but he still will not change the venue. Jake thinks, “Lucien was right—someone had gotten to him” (329).

At Jake’s request, Ellen has been researching 150 years of insanity law in Mississippi, including the M’Naghten brief, which explains how current insanity law might apply to Carl Lee’s case. Ellen has also met with Bass twice and crafted a courtroom dialog for him that Jake thinks is skillful. Next, Jake asks Ellen to research Dr. Wilbert Rodeheaver, head of staff at Whitfield hospital. Jake believes that Rodeheaver is reluctant to declare a defendant insane, and he wants to know if he has ever done so.

Jake takes Ellen on a road trip to a restaurant an hour and a half away. They flirt with one another in the car even though Jake explains that they must keep their relationship professional. At the restaurant, they drink a bottle of wine, eat, and discuss Bass. Ellen thinks he is the best they can do, as long as he is sober for the trial.

Related Titles

By John Grisham

Study Guide

logo

A Painted House

John Grisham

A Painted House

John Grisham

Study Guide

logo

A Time For Mercy

John Grisham

A Time For Mercy

John Grisham

Study Guide

logo

Camino Island

John Grisham

Camino Island

John Grisham

Plot Summary

logo

Gray Mountain

John Grisham

Gray Mountain

John Grisham

Study Guide

logo

Playing For Pizza

John Grisham

Playing For Pizza

John Grisham

Study Guide

logo

Skipping Christmas

John Grisham

Skipping Christmas

John Grisham

Study Guide

logo

Sparring Partners

John Grisham

Sparring Partners

John Grisham

Study Guide

logo

Sycamore Row

John Grisham

Sycamore Row

John Grisham

Study Guide

logo

The Boys from Biloxi

John Grisham

The Boys from Biloxi

John Grisham

Plot Summary

logo

The Brethren

John Grisham

The Brethren

John Grisham

Study Guide

logo

The Client

John Grisham

The Client

John Grisham

Study Guide

logo

The Confession

John Grisham

The Confession

John Grisham

Study Guide

logo

The Guardians

John Grisham

The Guardians

John Grisham

Study Guide

logo

The Innocent Man

John Grisham

The Innocent Man

John Grisham