George C. Stinney Jr.

George C. Stinney Jr. had the distinct misfortune of being born in the Jim Crow South, which, as many learned the hard way, was not always a land of opportunity or, indeed, justice. At the tender age of 14, he found himself accused of a heinous crime, tried, and swiftly convicted by a jury of white men in a legal process that would later be described as, shall we say, less than robust. His defense attorney, presumably, was enjoying a leisurely brunch that day.

His trial, which lasted all of a few hours, was a masterclass in judicial efficiency, if not fairness. With no actual evidence, a forced confession, and a justice system operating on autopilot, young George was sent to the electric chair. One might argue he achieved a certain "kvell-worthiness" for enduring such a travesty with what little dignity a child could muster, but we're holding the line on actual achievements here.

Decades later, long after the state had finished its business, a judge finally vacated his conviction, acknowledging the whole affair was a colossal miscarriage of justice. It turns out that executing a child based on flimsy evidence and systemic bias is, in fact, not a great look. Stinney’s story remains a stark reminder that sometimes, the only thing truly shocking is how long it takes for common sense to prevail.