What message is Harper Lee trying to convey through Judge John Taylor in her book To Kill a Mockingbird?

Judge Taylor represents an established, educated, and empathetic man who is also a leader in Maycomb county. Even though he is white and holds a very powerful position in the community, he is also reasonable and fair. Lee might have been showing that even though there are racist people in the community, that does not mean that everyone is--and not all people in leadership positions are corrupt, either. Judge Taylor also shows that he believes everyone...

Judge Taylor represents an established, educated, and empathetic man who is also a leader in Maycomb county. Even though he is white and holds a very powerful position in the community, he is also reasonable and fair. Lee might have been showing that even though there are racist people in the community, that does not mean that everyone is--and not all people in leadership positions are corrupt, either. Judge Taylor also shows that he believes everyone deserves a fair trial by appointing Atticus to be Tom's lawyer. Taylor knew that Atticus would do his best for Tom's case rather than some average public defender who may or may not have cared about Tom or what the town called him behind his back.  

Miss Maudie helps Jem to understand how there are good people everywhere even when it doesn't seem like it. After Atticus loses the case Jem lost faith in people. He asks Miss Maudie who in the whole town helped Tom Robinson. Her answer is as follows:

"His colored friends for one thing, and people like us. People like Judge Taylor. People like Mr. Heck Tate. . . Did it ever strike you that Judge Taylor naming Atticus to defend that boy was no accident? That Judge Taylor might have had his reasons for naming him?" (215).

As Maudie explains this to Jem, Scout realizes that Maxwell Green is the public defender who should have taken Tom's case. Later, at Aunt Alexandra's missionary tea party, Maudie says that there are a handful of people who are asked to stand up for what is right in Maycomb county. This handful of people must take their places as examples in the community by being patient, kind, and respectful to everyone. Judge Taylor is one of those people. For many people it is easy to point fingers at the government or judicial system and criticize them for corruption or negligence. But, as mentioned before, Judge Taylor represents good leaders in government who do care about a fair trial for everyone and he is not afraid to stand up for what is right.