Theater in the Courtroom

Abstract

In this article, the author situates the Chicago Conspiracy Trial in its historical context and explores its relevance to the jurisprudence of political trials and to theories of the theater. She begins by applying the theoretical framework of theater and contrasting two scenes from the trial. One falls into the category of rough theater, and the other into the category of deadly theater. There follows an analysis of the major scene of the first act, the binding and gagging of defendant Bobby Seale, and a scene close to the end of the trial when two defendants appeared in court wearing judicial robes. Finally, the article addresses how subsequent courts related to and reacted to these extraordinary events.