The Constitution, Censorship and the Schools: Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes
Peter Neal Herndon
Your feedback is important to us!
After viewing our curriculum units, please take a few minutes to help us understand how the units, which were created by public school teachers, may be useful to others.
Give FeedbackVI. Day Six: July 17 (Friday)
In perhaps the most dramatic statement yet made at the trial, Judge
Raulston revealed that his thinking had remained unchanged. "It is
not within the province of the court under these issues to decide and
determine which is true, the story of divine creation as taught in the
Bible, or the story of the creation of man as taught by evolution." No
experts were needed to comprehend the simple language of the law;
no scientific testimony would be heard. The result: pandemonium in
the courtroom. When order had been restored, the two sides bristled
at each other. A sample follows:
HAYS:We say that it is a denial of justice not to permit the Defense to
make its case on its own theory.
COURT:Let the exception be entered of record.
STEWART:I desire to except to exceptions made in that manner...I
think it is a (poor) reflection on the Court...
COURT:Always expect this Court to rule correctly.
DARROW:No sir, we do not. (Laughter)
COURT:I suppose you anticipated it? (my ruling)
DARROW:Otherwise we should not be taking our exceptions here,
your Honor. We expect to protect our rights in some other Court.
Now that is plain enough, isn't it?...I do not understand why every
request of the State and every suggestion of the Prosecution should
meet with an endless amount of time, and a bare suggestion of
anything that is perfectly competent on our part should be
immediately over-ruled.
COURT:I hope you do not mean to reflect upon the Court?
DARROW:Well, your Honor has the right to hope. (Grebstein, 137)
Raulston was clearly angered and said to Darrow: "I have a right to
do something else, perhaps." The crowd waited to see if the Judge
would send Darrow to jail for contempt. But the Court did nothing.
Instead he adjourned the court until Monday.
{{/pre>A HREF="#top">To top of this unit/a>PRE}}
{{HR size="1">A NAME="11"}}