Lizzie Borden Trial (1893, USA)

Lizzie Borden, a young woman from Massachusetts, stood accused of brutally murdering her father and stepmother with an axe. In one of America’s earliest “trials of the century,” the sensational details and Borden’s stoic demeanor transfixed the nation. Newspapers nationwide carried feverish coverage of the courtroom drama. Ultimately, the jury acquitted Lizzie Borden, and her trial became the stuff of legend, leaving her name entrenched in American folklore. The case remains culturally notable for its enduring mystery and as a spectacle of Gilded Age media influence on public opinion.

Scopes “Monkey” Trial (1925, USA)

In 1925, high school teacher John T. Scopes was tried in Dayton, Tennessee, for illegally teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution, defying a state law banning such instruction. The ACLU orchestrated the case to challenge the law and spark national discussion. The trial featured celebrity lawyers Clarence Darrow for the defense and William Jennings Bryan for the prosecution. As the first U.S. trial broadcast live on radio, it captivated listeners with its clash of science versus religion. Although Scopes was found guilty and fined $100, the trial’s real legacy was its cultural impact on academic freedom and modern science in American education.

Trial of the Chicago Seven (1969–1970, USA)

This case stemmed from protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Seven anti–Vietnam War activists, including Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, were charged with conspiracy and inciting riots. The trial quickly became a circus: defendants mocked the court, ate candy, and blew kisses to the jury. When Black Panther leader Bobby Seale was bound and gagged after calling the judge a racist, tensions peaked. In February 1970, the jury acquitted them of the most serious conspiracy charge but convicted five of inciting a riot. Those convictions and contempt sentences were later overturned on appeal due to judicial misconduct, underscoring the trial’s notoriety and clash between counterculture and establishment.

Lindy Chamberlain “Dingo Baby” Case (1980s, Australia)

In August 1980 at Uluru, Lindy Chamberlain claimed a wild dingo took her infant, Azaria. Skeptical investigators charged her with murder, and her trial in 1982 mesmerized the public. Despite her “dingo defense,” a jury convicted Chamberlain. In 1986, new evidence—the baby’s torn jacket found in a dingo lair—exonerated her. The case became a cautionary tale about confirmation bias and wrongful conviction. Globally famous for the phrase “A dingo ate my baby!”, the Chamberlain saga challenged public and legal assumptions about extraordinary defenses.

O.J. Simpson Murder Trial (1995, USA)

Former NFL star O.J. Simpson’s 1995 trial for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman was dubbed the “Trial of the Century.” With grisly crimes, racial tensions, and live television coverage, it gripped tens of millions worldwide. Simpson’s “Dream Team,” led by Johnnie Cochran and F. Lee Bailey, challenged DNA evidence and popularized the phrase “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” After an 11-month trial, a not guilty verdict sharply split public opinion. The case’s lasting impact reshaped society’s views on the justice system, media trials, and the interplay of race and celebrity in the courtroom.