A show trial is a publicized trial used for public relations rather than justice. The outcome is predetermined, and the trial is conducted to satisfy public desire for retribution. Defendants are often intimidated into confessing, and evidence may be suppressed. War crime trials have been accused of being show trials. The media closely follows show trials, with constant updates and live coverage of the verdict and sentencing.
A show trial is a highly publicized trial that is often undertaken more as a public relations exercise than an attempt at genuine justice. The term “show trial” dates back to the 1930s, when Russian leader Stalin held a series of infamous show trials, and is generally used as a pejorative by people expressing concerns about the validity of a trial and its verdict. Another term that is sometimes used to describe a show trial is “kangaroo court.”
When a legal proceeding is referred to as a show trial, the implication is often that the outcome of the trial has already been determined by the judge and jury, if a jury is present. Furthermore, the trial is conducted primarily for the purpose of examining motions in a legal process, satisfying a public desire for retribution, rather than a need to critically evaluate a legal situation and reach an impartial verdict. For example, a country might use a show trial to set an example for a suspected terrorist, sending a message to other terrorists while at the same time misleading citizens into believing that the nation is taking action against terrorism.
A number of features often accompany a classic show trial. The first is the common practice of intimidating the defendant into confessing to the crime. Defendants may be held in substandard conditions, subjected to torture, or even prevented from speaking in their own defense or contacting a lawyer. Defendants may also not be allowed to evaluate or question the evidence and, in some cases, may not even have the allegations read, meaning they don’t even know what they’re defending against.
Some war crimes trials have been accused of being show trials. Demand for justice after war atrocities by members of the general public is often quite strenuous, leading to a desire by victorious governments to hold people accountable for such atrocities. Critics argue that because these trials are held by victors and often involve suppression of evidence, inadequate legal counsel, and other issues, they are inherently unfair.
Show trials are often followed closely by the media, and regular publication of trial coverage usually includes pictures of the courtroom along with testimony. The general public can eagerly await the verdict of the trial, with radio and television stations providing constant updates and live coverage of the verdict and sentencing.
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