Notable Trials and Court Cases - 1637 to 1832
Aaron Burr Trial: 1807 - Aaron Burr's Roller-coaster Career, Burr Tried Before Chief Justice Marshall, Definition Of An Overt Act Debated
Defendant: Former Vice President Aaron Burr Crime Charged: "Treason" within the meaning of Article Ill, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution Chief Defense Lawyers: Benjamin Botts, Luther Martin, Edmund Randolph, and John Wickham. Chief Prosecutors: George Hay, Gordon MacRae, and William Wirt Judges: Cyrus Griffin and John Marshall Place: Richmond, Virginia Dates of Trial: August 3-Sept…
Abraham Carlisle and John Roberts Trials: 1778 - Collaborators, Chosen As Examples
Defendants: Abraham Carlisle, John Roberts Crime Charged: Treason Chief Defense Lawyers: George Ross, James Wilson, William Lewis, Elias Boudinot Chief Prosecutor: Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant Judges: Thomas McKean, William Atlee, and John Evans, justices of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Date of Trials: Carlisle: September 25, 1778; Roberts: September 30, 1778 Ver…
Alien and Sedition Acts: 1798
Defendants: 24 people, including: James Thompson Callender, Thomas Cooper, William Duane, Anthony Haswell, and Matthew Lyon. Crime Charged: Seditious libel Chief Defense Lawyers: Lyon acted for himself, advised by Israel Smith; David Fay and Israel Smith (Haswell); Thomas Cooper and Alexander Dallas, (Duane); Cooper acted for, himself; and William B. Giles, George Hay and Philip Nicholas (Callende…
Anne Hutchinson Trials: 1637 and 1638 - General Court Summons Hutchinson, Church Of Boston Enters Fray, The Aftermath: A Mixed Picture
Defendant: Anne Hutchinson Crimes Charged: "Traducing the ministers and their ministry" and heresy Chief Defense Lawyer: None Chief Prosecutors: Civil trial: John Winthrop; religious trial: the Reverend John Davenport Judges: Civil trial: John Winthrop and the Magistrates of Massachusetts; religious trial: John Wilson and the ministers of the Church of Boston Places: Civil trial: New…
Boston Massacre Trials: 1770 - Snowballs, Then Musket Balls Fly, The Redcoats Are Indicted, Captain Preston's Trial
Defendants: Captain Thomas Preston; Corporal William Wemms; Privates Hugh White, John Carroll, William Warren, and Matthew Killroy, William McCauley, James Hartegan, and Hugh Montgomery Crimes Charged: Murder and accessories to murder Chief Defense Lawyers: Both trials: John Adams, Josiah Quincy, Jr.; First trial: Robert Auchmuty; Second trial: Sampson Salter Blowers Chief Prosecutors (Attorneys f…
Calder v. Bull - The Facts Of The Case, High Court Rules
Mr. and Mrs. Calder Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Bull That Connecticut legislation granting a rehearing of a probate dispute violated the Constitution's prohibition of ex post facto laws. Samuel Chase (writing for the Court), William Cushing, James Iredell, William Paterson None (Oliver Ellsworth and James Wilson did not participate) Washington, D.C. 8 August 1798 Connecticut's legislation was not a constit…
Charles Lee Court-Martial: 1778 - Lee's Retreat At Monmouth, Lee Goads Washington, Lee's Trial
Defendant: Charles Lee Crimes Charged: Disobedience of orders; misbehavior before the enemy; disrespect to the commander in chief Chief Defense Lawyer: No Record Presiding Officer: Lord Stirling Chief Prosecutor: No Record Court: No Record Place: Brunswick, New Jersey Date of Trial: July 4-August 12, 1778 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: Suspension from the army for one year SIGNIFICANCE: The court marti…
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia - Significance, The "trail Of Tears", Further Readings
Cherokee Indian Nation State of Georgia That under the Supreme Court's power to resolve disputes between states and foreign nations, the Court could forbid Georgia from unlawfully attempting to move the Cherokees from their lands. William Wirt None Henry Baldwin, William Johnson, John Marshall (writing for the Court), John McLean Smith Thompson, Joseph Story (Gabriel Duvall did not participate) Wa…
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia: 1831 - Suggestions For Further Reading
Plaintiffs: Cherokee Indian Nation Defendant: State of Georgia Plaintiffs Claim: That under the Supreme Court's power to resolve disputes between states and foreign nations, the Court could forbid Georgia from unlawfully attempting to move the Cherokees from their lands Chief Defense Lawyer: None Chief Lawyer for Plaintiffs: William Wirt Justices: Henry Baldwin, Gabriel Duvalt, William John…
Chisholm v. Georgia - Further Readings
In his opinion for the circuit court, Iredell dismissed the suit for want of jurisdiction. If any court had jurisdiction over the dispute, Iredell said, it was the U.S. Supreme Court because Article III of the federal Constitution gave only the Supreme Court original jurisdiction over all cases in which a state is named as a party."It may fairly be presumed," Iredell wrote for the ci…
Cohens v. Virginia - Significance, Lotteries In America
Philip and Mendes Cohen State of Virginia A $100 fine under Virginia state law for selling tickets in Virginia for a national lottery authorized by Congress in the District of Columbia flouted congressional authority. David B. Ogden, William Pickney James Barbor, Daniel Webster Gabriel Duvall, William Johnson, Henry Brockholst Livingston, John Marshall (writing for the Court), Joseph Story, Thomas…
Denmark Vesey Trial: 1822 - A Long Brewing Plot, The Secret Plot Is Revealed, Vesey And Others Finally Arrested
Defendant: Denmark Vesey et al. Crime Charged: Conspiracy to commit insurrection and murder Chief Defense Lawyers: Vesey defended himself with assistance from George Warren Cross Chief Prosecutors and Judges: Lionel Kennedy, Thomas Parker, William Drayton, Nathan Heyward, James Legare, James R. Pringle, Robert J. Turnbull Place: Charleston, South Carolina Date of Trial: June 23-28, 1822 Verdict: G…
Dominic Daley and James Halligan Trial: 1806 - The Crime, The Trial, An Execution And An Exoneration, The Issue Of Bias, Suggestions For Further Reading
Defendants: Dominic Daley, James Halligan Crime: Murder Chief Defense Lawyers: Francis Blake, Thomas Gould, Edward Upham, Jabez Urham Chief Prosecutors: James Sullivan, John Hooker Judges: Theodore Sedgwick, Samuel Sewall Place: Northampton, Massachusetts Date of Trial: April 24, 1806 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: Death by hanging SIGNIFICANCE: This otherwise obscure trial—rightly or wrongly&#x…
Dorothy Talbye Trial: 1638
Defendant: Dorothy Talbye Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyer: No Record Chief Prosecutor: No Record Judge: Governor John Winthrop Place: Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony Date of Trial: October 4, 1638 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: Death by hanging SIGNIFICANCE: The Talbye case demonstrated that early American society and its legal system did not fully understand or acknowledge the concept that…
Fletcher v. Peck - Significance, Land Grabs And Corrupt Legislators, Innocent Third Parties, Contracts And The Constitution, Ex Post Facto Law
Robert Fletcher John Peck Peck had purchased some land from the state of Georgia, which he later sold to Fletcher. Subsequently, the Georgia state legislature rescinded the original sale to Peck. Fletcher's claim was that he had bought the land in good faith and that Peck was guilty of breach of contract. Luther Martin John Quincy Adams, Robert Goodloe Harper, Joseph Story Samuel Chase, William Cu…
Foster v. Neilson - Significance
James Foster, Pleasants Elam David Neilson That a grant of land in Spanish West Florida in 1804 was valid under the terms of an 1818 treaty, even though the U.S. government had previously claimed its rights to the land. Coxe, Webster Jones Gabriel Duvall, William Johnson, John Marshall (writing for the Court), Joseph Story, Smith Thomson, Bushrod Washington None (John McLean was not yet appointed)…
General William Hull Court-Martial: 1814 - An Army Of State Militiamen And Inexperienced Officers, Hull Ordered To Invade Canada, Hull Viewed As A Coward
Defendant: William Hull Crimes Charged: Treason, cowardice, neglect of duty, unofficer-like conduct Chief Defense Lawyers: William Hull. (representing himself) assisted by Robert Tillotson, Cadwallader D. Colden Chief Prosecutors: Martin Van Buren, Philip S. Parker Judges: Henry Dearborn, Joseph Bloomfield, Peter Little, William N. Irvine, James House, William Scott, William Stewart, J. R. Fenwick…
George Sweeney Trial: 1806 - Sweeney Poisons Wythe And Is Tried For Murder, Suggestions For Further Reading
Defendant: George Wythe Sweeney Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyers: Edmund Randolph and William Wirt Chief Prosecutor: Philip Norborne Nicholas Judges: Joseph Prentes and John Tyler, Sr. Place: Richmond, Virginia Dates of Trial: September 2-8, 1806 Verdict: Not guilty SIGNIFICANCE: Because the law forbade blacks from testifying in the criminal trial of a white man, George Wythe Sweeney wa…
The "Great Negro Plot" Trial: 1741
Defendants: More than 170 people, including: Caesar and Prince; John and Sarah Hughson, Sarah Hughson (daughter); Margaret Sorubiero, alias Kerry; Quack; Cuffee; and John Ury. Crimes Charged: Entering, theft (Caesar, Prince); receiving stolen goods, conspiracy to commit arson (John and Sarah Hughson, Sorubiero); conspiracy to commit arson (Sarah Hughson, daughter); arson, conspiracy to murder inha…
Jacob Leisler Trial: 1691 - Leisler Assumes Control
Defendants: Jacob Leisler, Jacob Milborne, eight other men Crimes Charged: The treasonable act of holding the king's fort by force against the royal governor, such action resulting in several deaths Chief Defense Lawyer: None Committee for Preparing the Prosecution: Nicholas Bayard, William Pinhorne, and Stephen Van Cortlandt Chief Prosecutors: James Emmott, George Farewell, and William Nic…
James Barron Court-Martial: 1808 - The Chesapeake-leopard Incident, The Court-martial, A Fatal Backfire
Defendant: Commodore James Barron Crimes Charged: "Negligently performing the duty assigned him; neglecting, on the probability of an engagement, to clear ship for action; failing to encourage in his own person his inferior officers and men to fight courageously; not doing his utmost to take or destroy the Leopard, which vessel it was his duty to encounter." Defense Lawyer: Robert B.…
John Francis Knapp And Joseph Jenkins Knapp Trials: 1830 - Trail Leads To Knapps, Verdict Hangs On Legal Definition, Suggestions For Further Reading
Defendants: John Francis Knapp and Joseph Jenkins Knapp Crimes Charged: Accessories to murder Chief Defense Lawyers: F.Dexter and W.H. Gardiner Chief Prosecutor: Daniel Webster Judges: Marcus Morton, Samuel Putnam, and Samuel S. Wilde Place: Salem, Massachusetts Dates of Trials: July Term, 1830 for John Francis Knapp; November Term, 1830 for Joseph Jenkins Knapp Verdicts: Guilty, both trials Sente…
John Fries Trials: 1799
Defendant: John Fries Crime Charged: Treason Chief Defense Lawyers: First trial: Alexander Dallas, James Ewing, and William Lewis; second trial: none Chief Prosecutors: First trial: William Rawle and Samuel Sitgreaves; second trial: Jared Ingersoll and Rawle Judges: First trial: James Iredell and Richard Peters; second trial: Samuel Chase and Peters Dates of Trials: First trial: April 30-May 9, 17…
John Peter Zenger Trial: 1735 - Zenger's Attack On The Royal Governor, Cosby Strikes Back, Hamilton's Appeal For Press Freedom
Name of Defendant: John Peter Zenger Crime Charged: Seditious libel Chief Defense Lawyers: Andrew Hamilton and John Chambers Chief Prosecutor: Richard Bradley Judge: James De Lancey Place: New York, New York Date of Trial: August 1735 Verdict: Not guilty SIGNIFICANCE: By accepting truth as a legitimate defense in a libel case brought against a newspaper editor by a public official, the jury laid t…
John Wesley Trial: 1737 - A Fateful Move, The Case Against Wesley, Threats, Flight, And A New Church
Defendant: John Wesley Plaintiff's Claim: Defamation of Character Defense Lawyer: No Record Lawyer for Plaintiff: No Record Judge: Thomas Causton Place: Savannah, Georgia Date of Trial: August 27-September 1, 1737 Verdict: Indicted on 10 charges, 2 relating to the original charge of defamation and 8 relating to alleged ecclesiastical errors Sentence: Never formally sentenced SIGNIFICANCE: B…
Johnson v. McIntosh - Significance, The Discovery Doctrine, Impact
Johnson, Graham William McIntosh That title to land purchased by private individuals directly from Indian tribes is entitled to recognition by the United States. Harper, Webster Winder, Murray Gabriel Duvall, William Johnson, John Marshall (writing for the Court), Joseph Story, Smith Thompson, Thomas Todd, Bushrod Washington None Washington, D.C. February term, 1823 The Court upheld McIntosh's cla…
Judith Catchpole Trial: 1656
Defendant: Judith Catchpole Crimes Charged: Infanticide and witchcraft Chief Defense Lawyer: No Record Chief Prosecutor: No Record Judges: Michael Brook, William Fuller, Edward Lloyd, John Pott, and Richard Preston Place: Patuxent County, Maryland Date: September 22, 1656 Verdict: Not Guilty SIGNIFICANCE: While trying to adhere to common law, colonial judicial practices often arose from immediate …
Major John Andre Trial: 1780 - Andre's Capture, Andre's Trial, Suggestions For Further Reading
Defendant: Major John Andre Crime Charged: Espionage Board of Enquiry: 14 generals of George Washington's staff headed by Major General Nathanael Greene. Place: Tappan, New York Date of Trial: September 29, 1780 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: Death by hanging SIGNIFICANCE: Major John Andre's trial for espionage sent shock waves through the American colonies by revealing the depth of a tre…
Marbury v. Madison - Further Readings
Judicial review is also routinely exercised by state courts over state and federal constitutional questions. Unlike the federal power of judicial review, which derives from Marbury, the state power of judicial review usually derives from an express provision in a state constitution. Marbury was an outgrowth of political struggles between the Federalist and Republican parties during the late eighte…
Marbury v. Madison - Significance, Marbury Goes To Court, Marshall Proclaims The Doctrine Of Judicial Review, Justice Alfred Moore
William Marbury, William Harper, Robert R. Hooe, Dennis Ramsay James Madison, U.S. Secretary of State That Madison had illegally refused to deliver judicial commissions to their rightful recipients. Charles Lee Levi Lincoln, U.S. Attorney General Samuel Chase, William Cushing, John Marshall (writing for the Court), William Paterson, Bushrod Washington None (Alfred Moore did not participate) Washin…
Marbury v. Madison: 1803 - Marbury Goes To Court, Marshall Proclaims The Doctrine Of Judicial Review, Suggestions For Further Reading
Plaintiffs: William Marbury, William Harper, Robert R. Hooe, and Dennis Ramsay Defendant: Secretary of State James Madison Plaintiff Claim: That Madison had illegally refused to deliver judicial commissions to their rightful recipients Chief Defense Lawyer: U.S. Attorney General Levi Lincoln Chief Lawyer for Plaintiffs: Charles Lee Justices: Samuel Chase, William Cushing, John Marshall, Alfred Moo…
Martin v. Hunter's Lessee - Significance, The President Vs. The Supreme Court, Rightful Owner Or Alien Enemy?, "the Supreme Law Of The Land"
Thomas Bryan Martin David Hunter That he, not Hunter, was the rightful owner of a grant of land in Virginia, known as the Northern Neck, left to him by Thomas, Lord Fairfax, a British subject whose title to the land derived from charters from the English kings Charles II and James II. Jones Tucker Gabriel Duvall, William Johnson, Henry Brockholst Livingston, Joseph Story (writing for the Court), T…
Mary Dyer Trials: 1659 and 1660 - Suggestions For Further Reading
Defendant: Mary Dyer Crime Charged: Quakerism Chief Defense Lawyer: None Chief Prosecutor: No Record Judge: Governor John Endecott Place: Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony Dates: October 19, 1659; May 31, 1660 Verdicts: Guilty Sentences: First trial: death by hanging, commuted to banishment from the colony and hanging should she return; second trial: death by hanging SIGNIFICANCE: Quaker Mary Dyer&…
McCulloch v. Maryland - Further Readings
McCulloch v. Maryland is a keynote case, 17 U.S. (4 Wheat.) 316, 4 L.Ed. 579 (1819), decided by the U.S. Supreme Court that established the principles that the federal government possesses broad powers to pass a number of types of laws, and that the states cannot interfere with any federal agency by imposing a direct tax upon it. Subsequently, a series of articles—which came to be called th…
McCulloch v. Maryland - The Bank Issue, Further Readings
James William McCulloch State of Maryland That a fine imposed by the State of Maryland for operating the Bank of the United States in Baltimore was an improper interference with federal government operations. Daniel Webster Joseph Hopkinson Gabriel Duvall, William Johnson, Henry Brockholst Livingston, John Marshall (writing for the Court), Joseph Story, Bushrod Washington None (Thomas Todd did not…
Nancy Randolph and Richard Randolph Trial: 1793 - Rumors Began Circulating, A Skillful Defense, Suggestions For Further Reading
Defendants: Richard Randolph, Anne Cary (Nancy) Randolph Crimes Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyers: John Marshall, Patrick Henry Chief Prosecutors: No record Judge: A Panel of 16 justices; there are no surviving records of their names Place: Cumberland County, Virginia Date of Trial: April 1793 Verdict: Acquittal SIGNIFICANCE: When two young members of one of colonial Virginia's oldest a…
Nicholas More Impeachment: 1685
Defendant: Nicholas More Crimes Charged: High crimes and misdemeanors Chief Defense Lawyer: None Chief Prosecutor: None Place: Philadelphia, Colony of Pennsylvania Date of Indictment: May 15, 1685 Verdict: None, although More was relieved of his judicial duties SIGNIFICANCE: Like other early America impeachments, Pennsylvania's methods for impeaching a sitting judge were drawn from English …
The Parsons' Cause Trial: 1763 - The Suit, Suggestions For Further Reading
Plaintiff: Reverend James Maury Defendants: The collectors of the tax for Louisa County, Colony of Virginia Plaintiff Claim: 300 Pounds in back pay Chief Defense Lawyer: Patrick Henry, taking over from John Lewis Chief Lawyer for Plaintiff: Peter Lyons Judge: John Henry Place: Hanover County, Colony of Virginia Date of Hearing: December 1, 1763 Verdict: Damages awarded, one penny SIGNIFICANCE: The…
Paul Revere Court-Martial: 1782 - The Penobscot Expedition, Initial Allegations Against Revere, Revere Court-martialled At His Own Insistence
Defendant: Paul Revere Crimes Charged: Disobedience of an order; leaving the Penobscot River without orders from his commanding officer Chief Defense Lawyer: No record Presiding Officer: No Record Chief Prosecutor: No Record Court: No Record Place: Boston, Massachusetts Date of Trial: February 1782 Verdict: Acquitted on both counts SIGNIFICANCE: The reputation of Paul Revere as a patriotic hero of…
Penhallow v. The Lusanna: 1777
Libelants: John Penhallow and Jacob Treadwell, representing 15 Portsmouth merchants who owned the privateer McClary, and George Wentworth, acting as agent for the ship's crew Claimants: Elisha Doane, owner of the Lusanna, Isaiah Doane (son), and James Shepherd Lawyer for the Libelants: Sewall (no other name listed) Lawyers for the Claimants: John Adams, John Lowell, and Oliver Whipple Dates…
Philadelphia Cordwainers Trial: 1806 - The Shoemaking Trade In Philadelphia, If The Shoe Fits.…, Verdict And Aftermath
Defendants: Underl Barnes, John Dubois, John Harket, John Hepburn, George Keimer, Peter Pollen, George Pullis, George Snyder Crime Charged: Conspiracy to raise their wages Chief Defense Lawyers: Caesar A. Rodney, Walter Franklin Chief Prosecutors: Jared Ingersol, Joseph Hopkinson Judges: John Innskep, Mayor of Philadelphia, ex officio; Moses Levy, recorder, presiding; Andrew Pettit, Abraham Shoema…
The Quock Walker Trials: 1781-83 - Suggestions For Further Reading
Case 1: Jennison v. Caldwell, civil suit and appeal Case 2: Walker v. Jennison, civil suit and appeal Case 3: Commonwealth v. Jennison, criminal indictment Plaintiffs: Nathaniel Jennison, (1); Quock Walker, (2) Defendants: Nathaniel Jennison, (2, 3); John and Seth Caldwell (2) Charge: Assault and battery (1, 3); deprivation of the benefit of his servant, Walker (2) Chief Prosecutor: Robert Treat P…
Salem Witchcraft Trials: 1692 - Magistrates Hold A Hearing, Jails Fill With Accused, Evidence Questioned
Defendants: 200 accused, including: Bridget Bishop, Reverend George Burroughs, Martha Carrier, Giles Corey, Martha Corey, Mary Easty, Sarah Good, Elizabeth How, George Jacobs, Susannah Martin, Rebecca Nurse, Alice Parker, Mary Parker, John Procter, Ann Pudeator, Wilmot Reed, Margaret Scott, Samuel Ward well, Sarah Wild, and John Willard. Crimes Charged: Witchcraft Chief Examiners: Jonathan Corwin …
Samuel Chase Impeachment: 1805 - Congress Impeaches Chase
Defendant: Associate Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase Crime Charged: "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" within the meaning of Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution Chief Defense Lawyers: Robert Goodloe Harper, Joseph Hopkinson, and Luther Martin Chief Prosecutor: Trial Managers John Randolph and Caesar Rodney Judges: The U.S. Senate, with Vice President Aaron Burr presiding Place: …
Sergeant Thomas Hickey Court-Martial: 1776 - Suggestions For Further Reading
Defendant: Sergeant Thomas Hickey Crimes Charged: Mutiny and sedition Chief Defense Lawyer: None Chief Prosecutor: None Court-Martial Board: Colonel Samuel Parsons, presiding officer Place: Richmond Hill, New York Date of Court-Martial: June 26, 1776 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: Death by hanging SIGNIFICANCE: The case reflected the uncertain, ill-defined state of American governmental affairs, partic…
State v. Mann: 1829 - In Defense Of Slavery
Defendant: John Mann Crime Charged: Assault and battery Chief Defense Lawyer: No record Chief Prosecutor: No record Judge: Thomas Ruffin Place: North Carolina Date of Decision: December 1829 Verdict: Judgment reversed, and judgment entered for the defendant SIGNIFICANCE: A Southern judge with little sympathy for slavery rendered a powerful and logical pro-slavery opinion, further entrenching South…
et al. Trial of Bathsheba Spooner: 1778 - Bathsheba Plots To Kill Her Husband, The Soldiers Are Arrested And Confess
Names of Defendants: Bathsheba Ruggles Spooner, William Brooks, James Buchanan, Ezra Ross. Crimes Charged: Murder, accomplice before the fact. Chief Defense Lawyer: Levi Lincoln Chief Prosecutor: Robert Treat Paine Judges: William Cushing, Jedediah Foster, Nathaniel Peaslee Sargeant, David Sewall, James Sullivan Place: Worcester, Massachusetts Date of Trial: April 24, 1778 Verdict: Guilty Sentence…
Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward - Significance, Further Readings
Dartmouth College State of New Hampshire That the action of the state of New Hampshire reconstituting the charter of Dartmouth College as Dartmouth University and appointing a new board of trustees was a violation of the constitutional protection against actions impairing contracts. Daniel Webster Joseph Hopkinson for old trustees; John Holmes and William Wirt, for State of New Hampshire William J…
United States v. Peters - The Fate Of The Active, To Prevent "a Solemn Mockery"
United States Richard Peters That Judge Peters should be obliged to act upon a mandamus or writ enforcing the judgement of a federal appeals court in favor of Gideon Olmstead, et al, despite a conflicting decision by Pennsylvania's Court of Admiralty. Samuel Chase, William Cushing, William Johnson, Henry Brockholst Livingston, John Marshall (writing for the Court), Thomas Todd, Bushrod Washington …
William S. Smith and Samuel G. Ogden Trials: 1806 - Miranda Dines At The White House, Rebel Vessel Sails From New York, President's Role At Issue
Defendants: William S. Smith, Samuel G. Ogden Crime Charged: Violating the Neutrality Act of 1794 Chief Defense Lawyers: Thomas A. Emmet, Cadwallader D. Colden, Josiah Ogden Hoffman, Washington Morton, and Richard Harison (Note: the transcript of the trial, as reproduced by Thomas Lloyd who was the stenographer at the trial, states that the last attorney's surname was Harison, with one �…
Writs of Assistance Trial: 1761 - Writs Versus Rights
Petitioner for the Writ: James Cockle, a deputy customs official of Salem Petitioners against the Writs: Merchants of Salem and Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony Attorney for the Customs Officials: Jeremiah Gridley Attorneys for the Merchants: James Otis and Oxenbridge Thacher Chief Judge: Thomas Hutchinson Place: Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony Date: February 24, 1761 Verdict: Deferred until a le…