Horace Gilmer

Assigned the prosecution of the Tom Robinson case, Mr. Gilmer faces off against Atticus in court. While Scout thinks their rivalry is strictly a legal one, Dill is disturbed by the difference in the two men’s approach to the trial: while Atticus treats all the witnesses, even the Ewells, with respect, Mr. Gilmer treats Tom Robinson with a rudeness and contempt he doesn’t show to the white witnesses. We only see Mr. Gilmer in court, so it’s hard to say if he really sees Tom that way or if he’s just putting on a show to win his case.