Final answer:
After Steve Harmon is declared innocent, his defense attorney, O'Brien, refuses to acknowledge him, which underscores the complexity of his perceived innocence and hints at her personal conflicts.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the novel 'Monster' by Walter Dean Myers, O'Brien, Steve Harmon's defense attorney, refuses to shake his hand or acknowledge him in any form of friendly gesture after he is declared innocent. The refusal to acknowledge Steve suggests a persistent doubt about his innocence or perhaps a discomfort with her own role in defending someone she may not fully believe to be innocent.
It's an important moment as it highlights the complexities of the legal system and personal morals within the context of a criminal defense, causing the reader to reflect on the ambiguity of 'innocence' in the legal arena.