Political trial

A political trial is a

political implications. When the trial is carried out without the minimum guarantees of the rule of law

, the political trial is the expression of a totalitarian or authoritarian system, where the administration of justice as a whole is political (and not just the conduct of that single process, due to a biased Court).

Definitions

Trial against behaviours claiming cultural pluralism

T. Becker writes that "in a sense, all trials are political. Since courts are government agencies and judges are part of the 'system' all judicial decisions can be considered political."^[1] A political trial is characterized by the fact that public opinion and public attitudes on one or more social questions will inevitably have an effect on the decision.^[2]

Political trials can include trials for

legal defense" or a "political defense

".

A technical defense would argue that the alleged crime did not occur as a matter of fact or law. In a political defense, a defendant may assert the political motivations behind the conduct in an attempt to convince the jury or the public of the justness of the political motivations and of the injustice of the prosecution.[4]

It has been suggested that in political cases, justice will be better served if the lists used to impanel jurors are more complete and if challenges and excuses are minimized, in order to ensure that the jury more accurately reflects the diversity of the community.^[5]

Trial in order to curb opponents against the government

When a political trial is "an examination before a court concerning the conduct of governmental affairs or somehow relating to government",^[6] you could have political justice:^[7] if bias is not only cultural but systemic, politics has an impact on criminal procedure chosen for the trial and on the impartiality of the Court.

There is some question as to whether political trials are necessary or if they are a

political justice (victims of repression).^[9]

Defendants in political trials tend to participate in the proceedings more than defendants in non-political cases, as they may have greater ability to depart from courtroom norms to speak to political and moral issues.[3]

Examples

Biased trials in democracies

Political trials in the United Kingdom

In

Diplock Courts tried anyone charged with a politically related offence and provided for delays in permitting legal access to suspects where the suspect could be interrogated for up to seven days. While suspects retained the right to silence, it was on condition that if they chose to rely upon it, a trial judge could later draw an adverse inference from their silence. One notable case, of many, arising from the British political courts in Northern Ireland is that of Belfast man Christy Walsh case

.

Political trials in Colonial America

The trial of Anne Hutchinson has been described as a political trial.^[10]

Political trials in the United States

The trial of eleven Communist leaders for teaching and advocating overthrow of the U.S. Government was described as something close to "a political trial with criminal overtones."^[11]
Haymarket trials
Dr. Spock conspiracy trial
The Catonsville Nine
The Chicago Conspiracy trial
Wounded Knee
New Haven Black Panther Party trial
Bobby Seale Prosecution
Panther 21
Camden 28
Attica prison riot prosecution
Winooski 44
Seabrook Power Plant protest prosecutions
Tim DeChristopher prosecution
Sacco and Vanzetti Case

Biased trials in totalitarian states

When the Soviet Union was created, the trial of Sofia Panina was one of the first political trials.^[12]

References

JSTOR 825069

^ Burnstein, Malcolm (1969), Trying a Political Case, vol. 28, Guild Prac., p. 33

^ ^a ^b Barkan, Steven E. (1976–1977), Political Trials and the Pro Se Defendant in the Adversary System, vol. 24, Soc. Probs., p. 324

JSTOR 800407

^ J Van Dyke (1976), Selecting a jury in political trials, Case W. Res. L. Rev.

JSTOR 468335

^ Otto Kirchheimer, Political Justice. The Use of Legal Procedure for Political Ends, Princeton University Press, 1961 (Series: Princeton Legacy Library, 2303), DOI: 10.1515/9781400878529.

S2CID 144583067

^ Political Crime, Political Justice, and Political Prisoners, vol. 12, Criminology, 7 Mar 2006, pp. 385–398^{[dead link]}

JSTOR 364308

^ Haber, David (1951), Lawyer Troubles in Political Trials; Harper, Fowler, vol. 60, Yale L. J., p. 1

JSTOR 2679365

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Political_trial&oldid=1211957594"

[1] JSTOR 825069

[2] Burnstein, Malcolm (1969), Trying a Political Case, vol. 28, Guild Prac., p. 33

[Barkan-3] Barkan, Steven E. (1976–1977), Political Trials and the Pro Se Defendant in the Adversary System, vol. 24, Soc. Probs., p. 324

[4] JSTOR 800407

[5] J Van Dyke (1976), Selecting a jury in political trials, Case W. Res. L. Rev.

[6] JSTOR 468335

[7] Otto Kirchheimer, Political Justice. The Use of Legal Procedure for Political Ends, Princeton University Press, 1961 (Series: Princeton Legacy Library, 2303), DOI: 10.1515/9781400878529.

[8] S2CID 144583067

[9] Political Crime, Political Justice, and Political Prisoners, vol. 12, Criminology, 7 Mar 2006, pp. 385–398^{[dead link]}

[10] JSTOR 364308

[11] Haber, David (1951), Lawyer Troubles in Political Trials; Harper, Fowler, vol. 60, Yale L. J., p. 1

[12] JSTOR 2679365

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