# 1901 - 2000 What was the trial of the century? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 12, 2006, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127 "2006-07-12T03:00:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/1 "2006-07-12T03:00:44Z")
Come on in and give your opinion, humble or otherwise, as to the TRIAL OF THE [echo chamber]CENTURY![/echo chamber] OJ? Scopes? Leopold and Loeb? ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/2 "2006-07-12T03:07:53Z")
The Nuremburg trials? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/3 "2006-07-12T03:15:30Z")
I’m torn between Scopes and the Nuremburg trials. I would rate both of those over Fatty Arbuckle, Lindy Baby Killer, L & L, OJ, Mike the Jackson, etc… cases because of how much more they actually impacted people’s lives outside of those directly involved in the trial than those mere rape and murder trials. OJ’s trial and the other LA area trials of note involving race and the police did impact that city and race relations outside of LA for a little while, but I saw that as reaction and not causing a lasting, widespread change. (imho, ymmv) ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/4 "2006-07-12T03:29:02Z")
Are we restricted to just criminal trials? If not, I’d say that [Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_v._Board_of_Education_of_Topeka) is the frontrunner. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/5 "2006-07-12T03:35:59Z")
Roe v. Wade ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/6 "2006-07-12T03:39:31Z")
I’ll go with the OJ trial. Not so much for the significance of the case itself, or the issues involved, but for the massive coverage. I don’t know of another trial in my lifetime that generated that level of interest. I was studying for the Bar Exam at the time, and spent many hours watching the trial–yeah, there were huge problems there. A Judge that lost control of his own courtroom, a bungled prosecution, both sides whoring to the cameras. At the same time, the process was so open, analyzed in minute detail, and exposed much of the nation to the basics of criminal procedure. It also included a textbook example of effective cross examination–Bailey’s destruction of Mark Furman, and a masterful closing argument by both Cochran and Scheck. ---
**Author:** ![MizQuirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@MizQuirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizQuirk)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/7 "2006-07-12T03:42:19Z")
Okay to count Supreme Court decisions? Roe v Wade ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/8 "2006-07-12T03:46:03Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > Are we restricted to just criminal trials? If not, I’d say that [Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_v._Board_of_Education_of_Topeka) is the frontrunner. I wouldn’t consider that even in the running for “Trial of the Century”. It just wasn’t a very “sexy” case. I would consider it clearly the most significant Supreme Court decision of the century, but appellate decisions and trials are entirely different animals. Lawyers that excel at one don’t necessarily excel at the other. Very different skills involved. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/9 "2006-07-12T03:55:47Z")
I’ll go with a civil case: [Donoghue v Stevenson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donoghue_v_stevenson), given the effect that Lord Atkin’s “neighbour” principle has subsequently had on negligence law. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/10 "2006-07-12T04:10:23Z")
I don’t have an answer, but I do have some more highly-publicized trials for consideration: Sacco and Vanzetti trial. The Lindbergh baby kidnapping trial. Leo Frank trial. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg trial. Charles Manson trial. Chicago Seven trial. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/11 "2006-07-12T04:19:24Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > I don’t have an answer, but I do have some more highly-publicized trials for consideration: > > The Lindbergh baby kidnapping trial. I mentioned that one already. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/12 "2006-07-12T04:23:27Z")
I’d go with Nuremburg. Domestically, I’d pick Roe v Wade. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/13 "2006-07-12T04:26:30Z")
Ok, I’ll guess we should break it down into catagories. War trials Criminal trials Civil trials Things to consider Effect of the outcome of the trial on the nation short term (caused riots) Effect of the outcome of the trial on the nation long term (changed laws) How ‘sensational’ the trial was (how much coverage it got in the popular media) M. Knight Shyamalan award for the trial with the best twist. (aquitted?!?! WTF!) ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/14 "2006-07-12T04:32:48Z")
Oh Striped One, what about the distinction between actual trials, and appeals? ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/15 "2006-07-12T04:40:55Z")
Kramer v Kramer? ---
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/16 "2006-07-12T04:43:41Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Oh Striped One, what about the distinction between actual trials, and appeals? Appeals of the Century? Hmm, lacks pizazz (is that spelled right?) Criminal: My first choice would be Scopes, but that’s probably because I’m a godless liberal. I also like the OJ trial for all the reasons \*\*Oakminster \*\* said. (Slight hijack: I was teaching a college class on newswriting during that trial, and on the day of the verdict, we suspended class to watch the verdict on TV. My students were dumbfounded when OJ was acquitted on all charges. The day started out being one kind of education, ended up being quite another.) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/17 "2006-07-12T04:47:26Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Oh Striped One, what about the distinction between actual trials, and appeals? One case, one entry. If a trial has several appeals, they all constitute the entry. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/18 "2006-07-12T05:14:47Z")
I don’t think _Roe v. Wade_ counts. Looks like it was decided on affidavits and motions, _not_ a trial. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/19 "2006-07-12T05:21:32Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > One case, one entry. If a trial has several appeals, they all constitute the entry. That’s not really what I’m getting at. Some cases are most famous for the final holding on appeal, ie _Roe v. Wade_, but they don’t really have much in the way of drama at the trial level. Appeals are generally decided on written briefs, with some oral argument on points of law. No live witnesses, no introduction of evidence, no “Perry Mason Moments”…that all happened below. As noted above, _Brown vs Board_ was a huge case…but not so much at the trial level. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127/20 "2006-07-12T05:38:57Z")
As a historian, my tendency would be to vote for “Brown v. Board,” and bugger any considerations of how exciting or sexy it was. If we’re going to leave out these type of appelate cases, i’d probably plug for the Scopes trial. By the way, for those interested in this sort of stuff, Douglas Linder of the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law has put together an excellent [Famous Trials website](http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/ftrials.htm), combining original documents, images, and timelines with judicious interpretation. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1901-2000-what-was-the-trial-of-the-century/364127.md?page=2)