New Book About Bobby Joe’s Case and Life, Justice Under God, Benefits NEIP
Pictured: Judge Christopher Muse (right) with client Bobby Joe Leaster on Bobby’s 35th birthday.
“He was a client, then a friend, then a brother.” — Judge Christopher Muse
Bobby Joe Leaster served 15 years in a Massachusetts state prison for a murder he did not commit. With the help of father-son team, Robert and Christopher Muse, he won his freedom and worked for decades with at-risk youth as one of Boston’s preeminent street workers.
Christoper Muse, now a retired judge, launched his new book about Bobby Joe’s case and life, Justice Under God, on Amazon on January 8, in celebration of what would have been Bobby Joe’s 75th birthday.
“It was personally rewarding for me to write this book, not only to honor Bobby Joe’s life and legacy but to raise awareness about wrongful convictions and help bring necessary change to the criminal justice system.
The appellate courts, for too long, defaulted to their stubborn adherence to the principle of Finality of Conviction. When I gave Bobby Joe the bad news from his fourth rejected appeal, he asked with the first hint of anger I had ever observed: ‘How did I get a fair trial if I am innocent?’”
— Judge Christopher Muse
“Bobby Joe Leaster’s story continues to teach us the power of hope and the importance of creating systemic change to prevent future wrongful convictions.”
— Radha Natarajan, Executive Director, NEIP