"[to the Supreme Court] This man is black. We can all see that. But, can we also see as easily, that which is equally true? That he is the only true hero in this room. Now, if he were white, he wouldn't be standing before this court fighting for his life. If he were white and his enslavers were British, he wouldn't be standing, so heavy the weight of the medals and honors we would bestow upon him. Songs would be written about him. The great authors of our times would fill books about him. His story would be told and retold, in our classrooms. Our children, because we would make sure of it, would know his name as well as they know Patrick Henry's. Yet, if the South is right, what are we to do with that embarrassing, annoying document, the Declaration of Independence? What of its conceits? "All men created equal," "inalienable rights," "life, liberty," and so on and so forth? What on Earth are we to do with this? I have a modest suggestion. [tears papers in half]"

"Matthew McConaughey - Roger Sherman Baldwin"

"[to the Supreme Court] Well, gentlemen, I must say I differ with the keen minds of the South and with our President, who apparently shares their views, offering that the natural state of mankind is instead - and I know this is a controversial idea - is freedom. Is freedom. And the proof is the length to which a man, woman or child will go to regain it once taken. He will break loose his chains. He will decimate his enemies. He will try and try and try, against all odds, against all prejudices, to get home."

"Harry Blackmun - Justice Joseph Story"

"Tomas Milian - Calderon"

"Well when I was an attorney, a long time ago, young man, I err...I realized after much trial and error, that in the courtroom, whoever tells the best story wins. In unlawyer-like fashion, I give you that scrap of wisdom free of charge."

"David Paymer - Secretary of State John Forsyth"

"Razaaq Adoti - Yamba"

"Daniel von Bargen - Warden Pendleton"

"Xander Berkeley - Hammond"

"Jeremy Northam - Judge Coglin"

"[to the Supreme Court] Your Honors, I derive much consolation from the fact that my colleague, Mr. Baldwin here, has argued the case in so able, and so complete a manner, as to leave me scarcely anything to say. However...why are we here? How is it that a simple, plain property issue should now find itself so ennobled as to be argued before the Supreme Court of the United States of America?"

"Peter Firth - Captain Fitzgerald"

"Darren E. Burrows - Lieutenant Meade"

"Allan Rich - Judge Juttson"

"[to the Supreme Court] James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington...John Adams. We've long resisted asking you for guidance. Perhaps we have feared in doing so, we might acknowledge that our individuality, which we so, so revere, is not entirely our own. Perhaps we've feared an...an appeal to you might be taken for weakness. But, we've come to understand, finally, that this is not so. We understand now, we've been made to understand, and to embrace the understanding...that who we are is who we were. We desperately need your strength and wisdom to triumph over our fears, our prejudices, ourselves. Give us the courage to do what is right. And if it means civil war? Then let it come. And when it does, may it be, finally, the last battle of the American Revolution."

"Arliss Howard - John C. Calhoun"

"Paul Guilfoyle - Attorney"

"Geno Silva - Ruiz"

"Morgan Freeman - Theodore Joadson"

"John Ortiz - Montes"

"Derrick Ashong - Buakei"

"Austin Pendleton - Professor Gibbs"

"Rusty Schwimmer - Mrs. Pendleton"

"Chiwetel Ejiofor - Ens. James Covey"

"Ralph Brown - Lieutenant Gedney"

"Scott Wilson - Chaplain Farlely"

"Peter Sarsgaard - Walter Delacroix"

"Roberta Maxwell - Lucille Poncelet"

"Jack Black - Craig Poncelet"

"Celia Weston - Mary Beth Percy"

"Raymond J. Barry - Earl Delacroix"

"Lois Smith - Helen's mother"

"Sean Penn - Matthew Poncelet"

"Margo Martindale - Sister Colleen"

"Robert Prosky - Hilton Barber"

"R. Lee Ermey - Clyde Percy"

"State trooper: I never gave a ticket to a nun before. I gave a ticket to a guy from the IRS one time. Got audited the next year. I'll tell you what, this time I'll let this one slide, but keep your speed down, yeah?"

"They won't care if you shot the gun. They'll be thinking of the crime. And of you as a monster. It's easy to kill a monster but hard to kill a human being."

"Susan Sarandon - Sister Helen Prejean"

"Michael Cullen - Carl Vitello"

"Look at you. Death is looking down your neck, and you're playing your little male come-on games."

"I want the last face you see in this world to be the face of love, so you look at me when they do this thing. I'll be the face of love for you."

"Ain't nobody with money on death row."

"It's quiet. Only three days left. Plenty of time to read my Bible and look for a loophole."

"I just wanna say I think killin' is wrong, no matter who does it, whether it's me or y'all or your government."

"Gwen Lee - Mrs. Fred Garrett"

"George Chandler - Milton Jackson"