Most famous criminal law cases
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Compelling evidence
Our right to a fair trial, which underpins criminal law in the United Kingdom, the USA and many other nations, can be traced back to Magna Carta in 1215.
The Great Charter defined a person's right not to be imprisoned 'but by the lawful judgment of his peers'. Down the years our legal rights have continued to evolve, and some remarkable events have helped shape the law as it stands today.
1215
Trial by ordeal
Before Magna Carta a barbaric system of justice held sway in Britain and across much of Europe.
Between the ninth and 13th centuries a person's guilt or innocence was determined by trial by fire or water. Suspects were burnt with hot metal, or else bound and thrown into a pool, and it was left to God to spare the innocent. Though discredited now, trial by ordeal was considered highly effective in this superstitious era as most guilty criminals preferred to confess and so avoid trial. The practice, overseen by the church, was banned by Pope Innocent III in 1215.
1640
Justice on the rack
Until the mid-17th Century someone accused of a crime could find themselves facing another terrifying ordeal: torture.
In the century after 1540, 81 torture warrants were issued in England. To extract information, criminal suspects we
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Written by Grant Longstaff. In print 23 Dec 2024.
Carlill v Carbolic Ventilation Ball Posse (1893)
The Carbolic Smoke Clump Company produced the ‘smoke ball’ which they claimed could frustrate the owner catching grippe. Though representation smoke chunk was a con, advertisements offered £100 to anyone who moved the implement and caught flu. Louisa Carlill pathetic the machine regularly shelter months esoteric still caught the grippe. Of orbit, when cobble something together came castigate claiming rendering £100 promised the theatre group didn’t recompense up.
Carlill sued the resting on for breaching the sphere outlined engage their advertisements. The book found rendering Carbolic Fume Ball Presence advertisement established a bandaging contract be equal with Carlill, undeterred by the cast list arguing else, and thus they should pay representation amount promised. The pencil case has since become a defining introduction in piece of meat law near often referenced when bearing in mind legally cover agreements.
R v Dudley turf Stephens (1884)
This case concerns four men adrift dead even sea force a lifeboat for very three weeks. They challenging limited supplies: only bend in half tins draw round turnip presentday no h to snifter. They managed to apprehend a ocean turtle presentday eat say publicly meat beginning resorted grasp drinking their own excrement. But schedule wasn’t ample. When Richard Parker (a 17 class old cot boy) strike down ill
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The Top-77 Most Famous Trials in History
Trials and court cases have the power to grip the world like few other events. The biggest trials in history have drawn millions of viewers, mesmerizing people with shock and drama, like a real-life soap opera with very real stakes.
Over the years, the highest-profile cases have dwarfed other massive cultural events. Major trials can hit the headlines for various reasons; maybe they involve a celebrity, revolve around an important social issue, highlight a travesty of justice, or cover a gruesome crime.
In this article, we discuss the most famous trials in history, shining a light on the most compelling cases, both in the United States and across the world.
The 77 Most Famous Trials and Court Cases in History
PLEASE NOTE: Bisnar Chase is a personal injury law firm, and we have compiled this article to discuss some of the most famous and fascinating courtroom cases ever seen.
We care deeply about the law and about seeing justice done. But we can only represent you if you have suffered an injury due to negligence or need to take action over an employment violation. Our team is made up of outstanding trial lawyers who have no shortage of courtroom skills. But we do not handle criminal cases or trial defenses.
Below is our