Trials Story Briefs

Courtroom battles often produce sensational scenes resulting in curious spectators and endless news coverage. From ancient to modern times, trials attract significant attention. This collection explores some of the most-fascinating.

In February of 1761, James Otis opposed taxation laws imposed on the American Colonies by the British Parliament.

Jan Hus opposed the church's sale of indulgences as a way to buy forgiveness of sins. He opposed the pope and the pope took his life.

This image depicts a page from the trial of Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc).

Refusing to recant his beliefs, which were contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church, Jan Hus (John Huss) was burned at the stake outside the c...

Justice Joseph Story was one of America's most-famous jurists during his lifetime. He authored the decision freeing the Amistad captives.

How did his contemporaries view the job performed by Judge Isaac Parker (sometimes known as "The Haning Judge" of Ft. Smith, Arkansas? Take a look at ...

After members of his crew report that Captain Kimber has murdered a slave girl, he is found "not guilty" by an all-male jury.

Justice Felix Frankfurter, an immigrant from Austria, became a Supreme Court Justice who fought against racial discrimination in schools.

Jean Valjean is the central character of Victor Hugo's ever-popular Les Miserables, but we don't really "meet him" until "Book Second" of Volume I.

Lewis Payne is arrested on April 17, 1865, three days after President Lincoln was shot. His fate is now sealed, after his attempted assassination of t...

Lewis Thornton Powell was born in Alabama, lived in Florida and served as a Confederate soldier. He became a "Lincoln Conspiracy" Defendant.

Abraham Lincoln's son William died on February 20th, 1862 of typhus.

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