Leavenworth

Former Army Lieutenant Clint Lorance is serving a 19-year sentence for murder and attempted murder in the U.S. Army's most notorious prison, known as Leavenworth. Exploring the challenging backstories of Lorance and members of his platoon, along with the dangerously complicated circumstances of the war in Afghanistan, this chapter reveals the collision course that sets the stage for the incident that irrevocably changed all of their lives.

Lorance took command of the platoon in Afghanistan in July 2012 and ordered fire on three local men riding a motorcycle, which killed two of them and outraged his platoon. Lorance, members of his platoon, and relatives of the Afghans who were shot give varied and conflicting accounts of the incident and the circumstances surrounding it. All of them soberly reflect on how they felt in the aftermath and what kind of impact it had on their lives. Returning to the present, Lorance's new attorney, John Maher, is introduced, and he seeks to overturn the conviction.

Lorance's current attorney, John Maher, revisits the court martial trial through an emotional meeting with the Lorance family. He analyzes how the proceedings were conducted and criticizes the conduct of both the prosecution and Lorance's first lawyer, Guy Womack. As the chain of events is revisited, the criticisms are countered by Womack and a professor of military law, Eric Carpenter, who contributes the Army's point of view while the Afghan locals weigh in on their vision of justice. As Maher digs into overturning the conviction, he uncovers evidence that reveals crucial details that had previously been undisclosed and that could change the course of the case.

While Lorance's lawyer, John Maher, continues to build his client's case and take it through the Army's formal appellate process, there is also the revelation that much more may have occurred on that day than was initially revealed. Despite the arguments, options begin to wane for Lorance, and his team seeks to gain political support through conservative media. The platoon takes issue with the way the case is covered, and a passionate debate ensues over the reality of the situation and the role media plays in the courts as well as the court of public opinion.

On the 50th anniversary of the My Lai Massacre, the comparisons are inescapable as the Army's chief appellate judge cites the Lorance case as an example of how they got it right. With no more options in the military appellate process, Lorance's team takes the case to civilian court to put the Army's criminal justice system on trial. Meanwhile, a witness steps forward to implicate Lorance's chain of command, and an implausible meeting takes place between Maher and a member of the platoon. With a Fall 2019 parole hearing and the possibility of a presidential pardon, Lorance and his family have hope, while their opponents dread the possibility of his release. All contemplate how the Lorance case has personally affected them, but also how it illustrates the big-picture contradictions of justice in war and the ultimate impact it has on all soldiers.