Learn about the case — historical background and documents The
Chicago Conspiracy Trial: A Short Narrative The trial of
political activists accused of inciting riots during the
Democratic National Convention of 1968 attracted national
attention and exposed the depths of political and cultural
divisions at a crucial moment in the nation’s history. The trial
of the “Chicago Seven” became a defining event in public debates
about the Vietnam War, the student protest movement, and the
fairness of the federal judicial process. The defendants and
their lawyers used the courtroom as a platform for a broad
critique of American society and an almost anarchic challenge to
the legitimacy of governmental authority. The judge in the case
displayed open contempt for the defendants, and his own
unorthodox behavior threatened public confidence in the
judiciary. The nearly five-month long trial illustrated the
contentious and often theatrical nature of public affairs during
the late 1960s and early 1970s. Planning for the Demo