Famous Trials in History

Gr 9 Up-Cawthon's compelling title presents 100 cases that form a composite picture of jurisprudence spanning centuries and continents. A range of trials is introduced, including those coming before juries and military and religious courts. Some highlight a legal or historic precedent, while others are notable for celebrity involvement or the sensational nature of the crimes involved. Proceedings are presented chronologically, beginning with the 499 B.C.E. trial of Socrates and ending with the 2010 trial of Kaing Guek Eav, a Khmer Rouge leader. Entries present key issues, the history of the case, a summary of the arguments, verdict(s), and cultural or historical precedents. A thematic list, with headings such as "Civil Liberties," "Children," and "Industrial Accidents," is appended. Author bias/error is a factor only rarely. In describing key issues of Anne Hutchinson's 1638 case, Cawthon writes, "Hutchinson…was something of a partner in her own martyrdom," and on the circumstances that led to O.J. Simpson's 1995 trial, she comments, "the former husband killed [Nicole Brown Simpson]." Libraries with Scott Patrick Johnson's Trials of the Century (ABC-CLIO, 2011), which is limited to U.S. trials, should consider this well-organized, clearly written title for its global coverage.—Jennifer Prince, Buncombe County Public Libraries, NC