Top 10 Most Famous Criminal Trials of ALL TIME

One of the most infamous and widely debated legal cases in American history began on the night of August 20, 1989, when Lyle and Erik Menendez murdered their parents, José and Kitty. The trial began in 1993 and created a media frenzy due in large part to the scandalous crime and the moral ambiguity that generated endless discussion. Some believed the brothers' allegations, arguing that society often dismisses male victims of sexual abuse. Others saw their claims as fabricated, having conveniently surfaced after their arrest. It also highlighted challenges in balancing claims of trauma with the standards for justifiable homicide. As such, the Menendez trial was emblematic of the justice system’s complexities, and it was a tantalizing drama to follow for multiple years.

A young peasant woman from Domrémy[b], Joan of Arc claimed to have divine visions instructing her to lead France to victory against the English during the Hundred Years’ War. Unfortunately, she was captured by the Burgundians and put on trial, facing accusations of heresy, witchcraft, and even cross-dressing (for dressing in male military attire). Her trial lasted several months, involving intense interrogations and theological scrutiny, and she was ultimately found guilty of heresy. On May 30, 1431, she was famously burned at the stake. With strong religious connotations, interesting political dynamics, and revolutionary examinations of gender roles, Joan’s martyrdom transformed her into a symbol of French nationalism. Nearly 500 years after her death, Joan was canonized and made a patron saint of France.

Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb kidnapped and murdered teenager Bobby Franks on May 21, 1924. They hoped that by getting away with it, they would become master criminals. However, they were quickly caught and confessed just ten days later. As this was deemed the crime of the century, the Leopold and Loeb trial was highly publicized, their defense led by the famous attorney Clarence Darrow. As they had already pleaded guilty, the “trial” was more of a sentencing hearing, with Darrow staunchly arguing against the death penalty in favor of life imprisonment. Running for 32 days, the famous trial concluded with an eight hour speech performed by Darrow, in which he passionately criticized the practice of capital punishment. Both men were ultimately sentenced to life.

On the morning of March 3, 1991, Rodney King was famously beaten by a number of Los Angeles police officers following a brief car chase. This beating was famously captured on video by salesman George Holliday, and it spread through the news in the days that followed. Four officers were charged and put on trial, and said trial became a hot button topic in the spring of 1992. The case famously brought together numerous contentious issues under one umbrella, most importantly those of race relations and police brutality. The officers were ultimately acquitted, resulting in the famous riots that engulfed Los Angeles for the next six days. 63 people were killed, over 2,000 were injured, and approximately $1 billion in destruction was caused.

The trial of Socrates in 399 BCE is not only one of the most famous criminal trials in history, it’s one of the most pivotal moments in Western philosophy. Socrates encouraged critical thinking, and his perceived opposition to democratic ideals made him a convenient scapegoat for the Athenian anxiety of the time. As such, he was charged with both impiety and corrupting the youth. Socrates remained steadfast in his principles and openly challenged his charges. When he was found guilty, he famously asked to be rewarded with free meals for life, as he believed that his philosophical work had greatly benefited the city. Socrates ultimately denied exile in favor of death, in the process becoming a martyr for philosophy and the freedom of thought.

The counterculture, or hippie era, arguably died with Sharon Tate. Of course, Tate was just one of seven victims, but she was by far the most famous, and her heinous murder made headlines around the world. The resulting trial was a circus. The Manson Family’s motive was unclear, leading prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi[e] to craft his still-contentious Helter Skelter theory. Meanwhile, Manson and his followers were irritatingly brazen, often laughing in the court room and famously carving x’s into their own foreheads. The trial was a mirror reflecting the societal turmoil of the late 1960s, representing disillusioned youth, countercultural ideals, and violent rebellion. It also greatly blurred the line between justice and entertainment, with the spectacle often overshadowing the legal proceedings.

By November 1945, World War II was finally over and it was time for Nazi Germany to pay for their crimes. Named after the German city in which they were hosted, the Nuremberg trials ran from November 1945 to October 1946, with 24 defendants taking the stand, including Hitler’s designated successor, Hermann Göring. The trials introduced several legal precedents, most notably the classification of “crimes against humanity,” which was used to prosecute systemic atrocities in subsequent decades. And despite being a deeply symbolic reckoning of the Nazi regime, showcasing a common humanitarian goal of doling out justice, the trials were also deeply controversial, raising both ethical and legal concerns. In the end, eleven of the 24 defendants were sentenced to death.

Between February 1692 and May 1693, colonial Massachusetts was ravaged by paranoia. The result was one of the most controversial events in American history. More than 200 people were accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials, with the accused often representing marginalized members of the community. The prosecution relied heavily on “spectral evidence,” in which the court gave serious credence to the concepts of visions and spirits. The bogus trials were considered unlawful as early as 1702, just nine years after they concluded. But it was too late for the 25 individuals who died, either by execution, torment, or unsanitary jail conditions. It was a complex interplay of mass hysteria and societal pressures, a warning against the unchecked aggression of fear and prejudice.

American journalist H.L. Mencken famously called it “the biggest story since the Resurrection.” The media called it the crime of the century. It caused Congress to pass the Federal Kidnapping Act. The case, of course, is the Lindbergh kidnapping, in which young Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr. was abducted from his home and murdered. The crime of the century gave rise to the trial of the century, with a German carpenter named Bruno Hauptmann being blamed for the murder. It was a media circus, with the prosecution relying heavily on circumstantial evidence to build its case. And while Hauptmann was found guilty and executed, this outcome remains highly controversial, with both the evidence and legal case against him being deeply flawed.

It’s hard to conceptualize just how big the O.J. Simpson trial was for people who weren’t there. This thing was massive, perhaps the cultural event of our time. Many TV stations stopped what they were airing to show the famous Bronco chase. The trial was extensively studied and analyzed in the media day in and day out. An estimated 150 million people watched the verdict live, making it one of the most watched television broadcasts in history. Many iconic cultural moments were created from the trial, including the famous glove incident. And of course, the controversial not guilty verdict put an infamous end to an already-famous trial. There’s simply no other trial like this one.


Can you think of any other examples? Let us know in the comments below!

hoh-ZAY https://youtu.be/1mY5OKjv4_k?si=MlphHLOFu_TAmt0V&t=42
[b]dawn-ray-MEE (it's french, so you don't exactly pronounce the "m" - pls listen!)
burr-GUNDY-ins https://www.dictionary.com/browse/burgundian
HAIRA-see https://www.dictionary.com/browse/heresy
[c]LEEUH-pold and lobe https://youtu.be/OCn98CGD-3A?si=PL4f4INFO2d1SlLu&t=30
[d]SOCKRA-teeze https://www.dictionary.com/browse/Socrates
[e]Vincent boo-lee-OH-see https://youtu.be/avjkGXCuk7U?si=aavgRzr2tJHwpsv0&t=1
[f]NOORIM-burg https://www.dictionary.com/browse/Nuremberg
herman GURR-ing https://youtu.be/FsOpcMFkrFs?si=X6sg7RBu59K1l0Ch&t=298 (english) OR https://forvo.com/word/hermann_g%C3%B6ring/#de (german)
[g]HAOPT-min https://youtu.be/Gbthx9M9NwI?t=31
MENG-kin https://forvo.com/word/h._l._mencken/#en
charles ugg-GUSS-tiss LIND-burg https://youtu.be/Gbthx9M9NwI?si=q74yoyCBb6-fXcKJ&t=288