I just read a story that I can't stop thinking about. The story of Joe Arridy — a case that sums up everything that can go wrong in a justice system.

In 1939, a young man with an intellectual disability was executed in Colorado for a crime he did not commit. His IQ was only 46. He didn’t understand what a trial meant. He didn’t know what an execution was. He only smiled at everyone because that was just who he was — always trying to please.

It all started in 1936 with a brutal attack. Authorities were under pressure to solve the case quickly. There was no solid evidence. No fingerprints or witnesses. But Joe Arridy was there, vulnerable, willing to confess anything just to please his interrogators. A forced confession. That was all they needed.

The worst part is that the real killer was caught later. But by then, Joe Arridy had already been sentenced to death.

In his final days, Joe played with a toy train given to him by the guards. He asked for ice cream as his last meal. He smiled until the end — completely unaware of the monumental injustice done to him. The prison guards cried that night.

And justice? It came 72 years later. In 2011, Colorado officially declared Joe Arridy innocent. A belated apology. A recognition he never got to hear.

Joe Arridy’s story makes me think about how many times the system fails those who cannot defend themselves. When justice breaks down, it breaks the most vulnerable people. That’s what happened here. A lesson that should never be forgotten.