Final answer:
In 'Just Mercy,' political figures or higher legal authorities are notably absent in the final hours of Herbert Richardson's case, which impacts his fate by offering no clemency or stay of execution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to the book Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, particularly the sections involving Herbert Richardson's case. In the final hours depicted, a notable absence that influences the events surrounding Herbert's fate is the lack of involvement or intervention by political figures or higher legal authorities who have the power to grant clemency or stay the execution. This absence plays a critical role in the narrative, highlighting the themes of justice and the legal system's failings.
In Just Mercy, Stevenson details his work with the Equal Justice Initiative and emphasizes the importance of advocacy and legal intervention in cases where the system has failed to protect the rights of the most vulnerable. The lack of action by those in power in Herbert's case underscores the systemic problems and suggests a deficiency of mercy within the justice system.