COJ #171 - Bone Valley's Gilbert King on Justice, Forgiveness & Fighting For A Better System

About this episode

Gilbert King discusses wrongful convictions, racial injustice, and the power of storytelling in the context of Leo Schofield's case.

Investigative journalists ⁠⁠Mandy Matney⁠⁠ and ⁠Liz Farrell⁠⁠ sit down with Pulitzer Prize winning Journalist and Bone Valley podcast creator Gilbert King for a conversation that connects wrongful conviction, racial injustice, and the raw power of storytelling across decades of American history. King shares how his research into Thurgood Marshall's landmark civil rights battles in the Jim Crow South led him to Leo Schofield — a Florida man who spent 36 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit while the real killer, Jeremy Scott, walked free and killed again. He also recounts the jaw-dropping moment he sat with Leo when Jeremy called unexpectedly — and Leo forgave him. We’re also unpacking why prosecutors double down instead of admitting error, how the judicial system's resistance to finality crushes innocent people, and why one storyteller's decision to shine a light can change everything. ☕ Cups Up! ⚖️ Episode References Get to know Pulitzer Prize winner Gilbert King — follow him on Facebook and Instagram Listen to Gilbert’s podcast Bone Valley - Leo Schofield’s storyCan't get enough of Bone Valley? Can't get enough of Bone Valley? Pick up one of Gilbert's books next. Devil…

People in this episode

Hosts: Mandy Matney, Liz Farrell

Guest: Gilbert King

Topics covered

• wrongful conviction
• racial injustice
• storytelling
• judicial system
• forgiveness

Keywords

• wrongful conviction
• Gilbert King
• Leo Schofield
• racial injustice
• forgiveness
• Bone Valley
• storytelling

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Bone Valley, The New York Times, WUSF

Books & works: Devil in the Grove, Beneath a Ruthless Sun, The Execution of Willie Francis, Bone Valley: The Book

More episodes of Cup Of Justice

• COJ #183 - No 'Reasonable Woman': When Surviving Is the Crime With Author Justine van der Leun · June 9, 2026 · 1h 1m
• COJ #182 - Troll Theories & ‘Tinkering’: Behind The Murdaugh Conspiracy In The New Yorker · June 2, 2026 · 1h 4m
• COJ #181 - Dr. Jermaine Johnson on Cowards, Courage & Two Systems of Justice · May 26, 2026 · 55 min
• COJ #180 - A Tale of Two Subpoenas: Inside Mandy’s Civil Contempt Hearing + A Look At Alex Murdaugh’s Plan For New Trial · May 19, 2026 · 59 min
• COJ #179 - Fight For Our Legacy: Mandy Matney Braces For Contempt Hearing While Eric Bland Defends Law License · May 12, 2026 · 1h 9m
• COJ #178 - Every Accusation Is an Admission: Inside Parker's Pound-of-Flesh Playbook + Expose The Truth in York, SC on May 15 · May 5, 2026 · 59 min