what lawyer represented john scopes at his trial

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How long did it take for Scopes to be found guilty?

His teachings, and His teachings alone, can solve the problems that vex the heart and perplex the world. After eight days of trial, it took the jury only nine minutes to deliberate. Scopes was found guilty on July 21 and ordered by Raulston to pay a $100 fine (equivalent to $1,500 in 2020).

Why did Clarence Darrow call William Jennings Bryan?

On the seventh day of the trial, Clarence Darrow took the unorthodox step of calling William Jennings Bryan, counsel for the prosecution, to the stand as a witness in an effort to demonstrate that belief in the historicity of the Bible and its many accounts of miracles was unreasonable. Bryan accepted, on the understanding that Darrow would in turn submit to questioning by Bryan. Although Hays would claim in his autobiography that the examination of Bryan was unplanned, Darrow spent the night before in preparation. The scientists the defense had brought to Dayton—and Charles Francis Potter, a modernist minister who had engaged in a series of public debates on evolution with the fundamentalist preacher John Roach Straton —prepared topics and questions for Darrow to address to Bryan on the witness stand. Kirtley Mather, chairman of the geology department at Harvard and also a devout Baptist, played Bryan and answered questions as he believed Bryan would. Raulston had adjourned court to the stand on the courthouse lawn, ostensibly because he was "afraid of the building" with so many spectators crammed into the courtroom, but probably because of the stifling heat.

How long did the confrontation between Bryan and Darrow last?

The confrontation between Bryan and Darrow lasted approximately two hours on the afternoon of the seventh day of the trial. It is likely that it would have continued the following morning but for Judge Raulston's announcement that he considered the whole examination irrelevant to the case and his decision that it should be "expunged" from the record. Thus Bryan was denied the chance to cross-examine the defense lawyers in return, although after the trial Bryan would distribute nine questions to the press to bring out Darrow's "religious attitude". The questions and Darrow's short answers were published in newspapers the day after the trial ended, with The New York Times characterizing Darrow as answering Bryan's questions "with his agnostic's creed, 'I don't know,' except where he could deny them with his belief in natural, immutable law".

How much was Scopes fined?

Scopes was found guilty and fined $100 (equivalent to $1,500 in 2020), but the verdict was overturned on a technicality. The trial served its purpose of drawing intense national publicity, as national reporters flocked to Dayton to cover the big-name lawyers who had agreed to represent each side.

What was the Scopes v. State case?

John Thomas Scopes and commonly referred to as the Scopes Monkey Trial, was an American legal case in July 1925 in which a high school teacher, John T. Scopes, was accused of violating Tennessee 's Butler Act, which had made it unlawful to teach human evolution in ...

Why did the ACLU oppose the Butler Act?

The ACLU had originally intended to oppose the Butler Act on the grounds that it violated the teacher's individual rights and academic freedom , and was therefore unconstitutional. Principally because of Clarence Darrow, this strategy changed as the trial progressed. The earliest argument proposed by the defense once the trial had begun was that there was actually no conflict between evolution and the creation account in the Bible; later, this viewpoint would be called theistic evolution. In support of this claim, they brought in eight experts on evolution. But other than Dr. Maynard Metcalf, a zoologist from Johns Hopkins University, the judge would not allow these experts to testify in person. Instead, they were allowed to submit written statements so their evidence could be used at the appeal. In response to this decision, Darrow made a sarcastic comment to Judge Raulston (as he often did throughout the trial) on how he had been agreeable only on the prosecution's suggestions. Darrow apologized the next day, keeping himself from being found in contempt of court.

When was the Rhea County Courthouse restored?

The Rhea County Courthouse is a National Historic Landmark. In a $1 million restoration of the Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton, completed in 1979, the second-floor courtroom was restored to its appearance during the Scopes trial.

What did Scopes teach?

In the fall of 1924, Scopes joined the faculty of Rhea County Central High School in Dayton, Tennessee, where he taught algebra, chemistry and physics. At the time, there was a national debate about whether evolution should be taught in schools. British naturalist Charles Darwin championed the theories of evolution, espousing that all modern animal and plant life had descended from a common ancestor. Darwin's theories, however, directly contradicted the Bible's teachings on the beginning of life. Across the United States, Christian fundamentalists moved to bar any discussion of evolution from the nation's classrooms.

What was the significance of the Dayton trial?

The trial made headlines with reporters from coast-to-coast camped out in the small Tennessee town. Dayton was a small, religious community, which led many, including writer H.L. Mencken, to believe that a guilty verdict was a foregone conclusion. Still both Darrow and Bryan gave impressive orations during the trial.

How old was Scopes when he was charged?

That was enough to get him charged under the new law. Only 24 years old, Scopes saw the case as a chance to stand up for academic freedom.

How did Scopes die?

In 1967, Scopes published Center of the Storm, a book about his life and experiences as part of the famed Scopes "Monkey Trial.". He died of cancer on October 21, 1970, in Shreveport, Louisiana.

What was the law that made it illegal to teach evolution?

Tennessee passed their own law against the teaching of evolution in March 1925. The Butler Act made it illegal for any teacher in a publicly funded school "to teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals." The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) wanted to challenge the Butler Act in court. While he was not a biology teacher, Scopes volunteered to be tried under the new law. He admitted he had used a textbook that supported evolution while serving as a substitute biology teacher. That was enough to get him charged under the new law.

Where did Scopes go to college?

There, he graduated from high school in 1919. After one year at the University of Illinois, Scopes transferred to the University of Kentucky. He had to drop out for a time for medical reasons, but he eventually earned a degree in law.

Where was Thomas Scopes born?

Born on August 3, 1900, in Paducah, Kentucky, Scopes was the youngest of five children born to railroad worker Thomas Scopes and his wife, Mary. The couple's only son, he spent his early years in Kentucky before moving to Illinois as a teenager. There, he graduated from high school in 1919.

What was John Scopes charged with?

On May 5, 1925 a twenty-five year old science teacher and football coach named John Scopes was arrested at Rhea County High School in Dayton, Tennessee and charged with violating the state's Butler Act. This law prohibited public school teachers from discussing evolution with their students. He was tried in a case formally known as State of Tennessee vs. John Scopes, but the press called it the Scopes Monkey Trial.

What was John Scopes's book about the trial called?

Scopes' post-trial life focused on his own education, which he pursued in graduate school t the University of Chicago, and work as a geologist for companies in Venezuela and Houston, Texas. In 1967, he published a book about the trial called 'Center of the Storm: The Memoirs of John Scopes'. Scopes died in 1970.

What is the Scopes trial?

The Scopes trial is the most famous case in the debate over whether evolution or creationism should be taught in schools in the United States. In 1925, the state of Tennessee accused a teacher named John Scopes of breaking the Butler Act, which made it illegal to teach students about evolution. The ACLU paid for a famous defense lawyer named Clarence Darrow to defend Scopes. The former Secretary of State, William Jennings Bryan, represented the opposing side. Scopes lost the case, but his trial brought to national attention the growing conflict between Christian fundamentalism and evolutionary biology.

Why was Scopes arrested?

To get the attention of the local police, rumors were spread that Scopes had taught evolution. Scopes was then arrested in his classroom.

How much was Scopes fined?

Scopes lost the trial and was fined $100. Scopes challenged the ruling in the Supreme Court of Tennessee. The conviction was eventually overturned on a legal technicality--judges in the state weren't allowed to charge fines for more than $50.

Who was the teacher who refused to go to trial?

Rappleyea decided to ask a local teacher named John Scopes if he would be willing to act as a defendant in the trial. Scopes refused at first, saying that he believed in evolution, but that he skipped over that chapter in his classes. Scopes was eventually convinced that he should go to trial to defend his beliefs. In a meeting at the local drugstore, Scopes said: 'If you can prove that I've taught evolution and that I can qualify as a defendant, then I'll be willing to stand trial.'

Who was the teacher who was on trial for teaching his students about evolution?

In 1925, a teacher named John Scopes was put on trial for teaching his students about evolution. Read this article to find out how the case of State of Tennessee vs. John Scopes influenced the national debate over whether American schools should teach evolution or creationism.

What did Scopes say to Robinson's Drugstore?

After some discussion he told the group gathered in Robinson's Drugstore, "If you can prove that I've taught evolution and that I can qualify as a defendant, then I'll be willing to stand trial.".

How did the Scopes trial affect him?

The results of the Scopes Trial affected him professionally and personally. His public image was mocked in animation, cartoons and other media in the following years. Scopes himself retreated from the public eye and focused his attention on his career.

What was the scopes monkey trial?

Scopes' involvement in the so-called Scopes Monkey Trial came about after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced that it would finance a test case challenging the constitutionality of the Butler Act if they could find a Tennessee teacher who was willing to act as a defendant.

What was Scopes' political career?

Having failed in education, Scopes attempted a political career the summer of 1932 as a Kentucky congressman. He registered on the Socialist ticket and suffered defeat. In the end, Scopes returned to the oil industry, serving as an oil expert for the United Production Corporation, later known as United Gas Corporation.

Where did Scopes go to college?

He earned a degree at the University of Kentucky in 1924, with a major in law and a minor in geology. Scopes moved to Dayton where he became the Rhea County High School 's football coach, and occasionally served as a substitute teacher.

Why was the Butler Act overturned?

In a 3–1 decision written by Chief Justice Grafton Green, the Butler Act was held to be constitutional, but the court overturned Scopes's conviction because the judge had set the fine instead of the jury. The Butler Act remained in effect until May 18, 1967, when it was repealed by the Tennessee legislature .

Where was John Scopes born?

Scopes was born in 1900 to Thomas Scopes and Mary Alva Brown, who lived on a farm in Paducah, Kentucky. John was the fifth child and only son. The family moved to Danville, Illinois, when he was a teenager. In 1917, he moved to Salem, Illinois, where he was a member of the class of 1919 at Salem High School.

Who were the Scopes lawyers?

Other members of Scopes legal team were Arthur Garfield Hays, Dudley Field Malone, W.O. Thompson, and F.B. McElwee. Thompson was Darrow's law partner. Hays was general counsel and cofounder of the American Civil Liberties Union. Malone gave a strong speech in defense of academic freedom at the trial. He advocated for women's suffrage and specialized in international divorces.

Who defended John Scopes?

Clarence Darrow, a well known defense attorney in his day, defended John Scopes. Attorney for the prosecution was a former presidential candidate and Secretary of State, William Jennings Bryan.

What was the Scopes trial?

The Scopes Trial, also known as the Scopes Monkey Trial, was the 1925 prosecution of science teacher John Scopes for teaching evolution in a Tennessee public

What part of the criminal homicide statute could be brought up successfully by the defense?

This is the only line in question. The only part of the criminal homicide statute that could be brought up successfully by the defense was to show that Guyger intentionally killed Jean by accident without being reckless or negligent.

What is the central to the case for alternative theories?

Central to the case for "alternative" theories is a misunderstanding of what a scientific theory is, and isn't. One thing it cannot do is depend on supernatural elements. That is the role of religious belief. By asking that creationism be given a place beside the theory of evolution, its supporters are asking that their beliefs be given equal standing with the scientific method. That violates the separation of church and state, as Judge Jones ruled; in claiming their science was not faith-based, he said, they lied.”

Who is the attorney for scope?

Clarence Darrow is the person who is most often remembered as Scope's attorney. However, Scopes was represented by a team of lawyers.

Who would defend teachers charged with a violation of the law?

The American Civil Liberties Union immediately announced they would defend any teacher charged with a violation of the law and started looking around for a test case.

What did Scopes say about the Butler Act?

Scopes later described the fateful meeting at Robinson’s that led to his agreeing to test the Butler Act as “just a drugstore conversation that got past control.” Many times over the coming months, he would regret having anything to do with the case. Scopes had hoped to spend the summer selling Fords for a five per cent commission, but with the comings and goings in Dayton, there was little time to make extra money. Had it not been for his father, who insisted the trial was John’s chance to serve his country, Scopes might have terminated his involvement.

What commission did Scopes get for selling Fords?

Scopes had hoped to spend the summer selling Fords for a five per cent commission, but with the comings and goings in Dayton, there was little time to make extra money. Had it not been for his father, who insisted the trial was John’s chance to serve his country, Scopes might have terminated his involvement.

How many witnesses did John Scopes call?

The entire prosecution case in the trial of John Scopes occupies less than two hours of a Wednesday afternoon session of court. The state calls only four witnesses.

What books did Thomas Scopes carry on his boat?

One account has Thomas Scopes stepping off the boat at Galveston, Texas with four books in his luggage: the Bible, a hymn book, Carlyle’s The French Revolution, and Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. Thomas and his wife, Mary, insisted that their children read literature and philosophy—and quizzed them regularly on their readings.

Where did John Scopes go to high school?

John Scopes came to Dayton, Tennessee after graduating from the University of Kentucky in 1924, when the man who served as Rhea County High School’s principal, football coach, and algebra and physics teacher suddenly resigned in late summer.

When did Scopes leave Dayton?

A date “with a beautiful blonde” at an upcoming church social kept Scopes in Dayton for a few days beyond his originally scheduled departure in May of 1925, at the end of the Rhea County school term. He was playing tennis one hot afternoon on the town’s tennis court when a small boy approached him.

What was Thomas Scopes' fifth child?

They were especially proud of their fifth child, John, whom Thomas called “an extraordinary boy.”. The politics of Thomas Scopes bent left as he became a railroad machinist, a union activist, pacifist, and a Socialist. Although reared in the Church of England, Thomas Scopes moved toward agnosticism in his later years.

Who was on the prosecution team for Scopes?

The prosecution team included former Vice President and evangelist William Jennings Bryan.

What happened to John Scopes?

Whatever Happened to John Scopes, the ‘Monkey-Trial Man’? 'The monkey trials' reached a fervor of national attention in April 1925, but for a man so hated and vilified during the trial, John Scopes strangely disappeared into obscurity immediately after the verdict. Jeff Nilsson.

What happened after the verdict in the case of Scopes?

The sensational aspects of the story ended there, and few people are aware of what happened after the verdict. The judge set a fine of $100. Scopes’ lawyers appealed the verdict to the Tennessee Supreme Court, which supported the lower court’s verdict. However, the higher court—perhaps eager to get rid of the case—noted that the judge, not the jury, had set the amount of the fine. On this technicality, the Supreme Court overturned Scopes’ conviction.

What was the last great case of Darrow?

The Scopes trial was one of the last great cases of Darrow’s career, and Bryan died just five days after the trial. Tennessee’s Butler Act remained in effect until 1967, at which point the state’s teachers were free to incorporate the theory of evolution into their biology curricula. In 2012, a new state law required science teachers to present evolution as a “controversial” and questionable theory.

How much was the fine for the scopes case?

The judge set a fine of $100. Scopes’ lawyers appealed the verdict to the Tennessee Supreme Court, which supported the lower court’s verdict. However, the higher court—perhaps eager to get rid of the case—noted that the judge, not the jury, had set the amount of the fine.

Why did the American Civil Liberties Union want a test case?

The American Civil Liberties Union wanted a test case to see if the Tennessee courts would enforce its new “Butler Act,” which outlawed the teaching of evolution.

When was John Scopes photographed?

Photograph of John Scopes taken one month (June 1925) before the Tennessee v. John T. Scopes Trial. From the Smithsonian Institution Archives.

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Appeal To Supreme Court Of Tennessee