A Brief Summary Of The Tom Robinson Trial

How would you feel if you were shamed over things you couldn’t control? Based on only prejudice and stereotypes, some people hate others. Internalized intolerance can exist in everyone, mentally and legally. Court cases and trials can distinctly show this. To Kill A Mockingbird focuses around an unfair trial of Tom Robinson, who was wrongfully arraigned for raping a white woman. Although clear evidence pointed to Tom being innocent, he was still found guilty. Trials from the 1930s to today can compare to this. Many trials compare to Tom Robinson’s case on accounts of false accusations, discrimination, and unfair verdicts.

* Jem still thinks that juries are a crock of @#$%, and Atticus tells him that if the jury had been made up of Jem and others like him, Tom would have been acquitted. He goes on to say that the jury left behind the written law to follow the unwritten one – that the white man always wins.

Given the harsh circumstances that involved discrimination and racism during the 1900s, the understanding and empathy of a young Jem Finch shines through the plot of To Kill A Mockingbird like a star. Under the spectacular influence of Atticus Finch, Jem’s compassion always seems to prevail, no matter what the situation may be. This is used in great effect to justify the ethical theme of the story. That being that everyone deserves the same rights and freedoms. In the book specifically, this is conveyed through the unequal privilege of a “fair trial”. It was shown that the black society stood no chance in court when Bob Ewell, a poor white man, accused Tom Robinson, a black man, of raping

Though the black community is sad that Tom Robinson was found guilty they are still faithful that Atticus will protect and defend the black community. Bob Ewell is not happy at all with the way Atticus questioned him and his daughter and the way he defended Tom Robinson. Miss Stephanie says that"this morning Bob Ewell stopped Atticus on the post office corner, spat in his face, and told him he'd get him if it took the rest of his life"t Jem's reaction to the verdict is that he leaves the courtroom and cries because he didn't think Tom would be guilty and he feels that it is an unfair verdict and he sees the town in an unfair way. I personally thought that this judging was just a way to seem like society was fair by giving a black man a “trial”. However, I think that they were going to say Tom Robinson was guilty either way.

The novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee is a view of life in the

Looking back at history we find that many trial cases have been unsolved, one in particular being the William Robinson case which took place in Salt Spring Island British Columbia in 1868. The death of William Robinson, a black man, resulted in the conviction and inherent execution of a Native man named Tshuanahusset (trial name “Tom”). The trial and thereafter death of “Tom” has caused much controversy in historical studies. With many different stories and recollections of said crime it was hard to say what actually happened during 1868 other than “Tom” being convicted as guilty of murder. I am here to prove that based on circumstantial evidence that the evidence that was provided against “Tom” does not beyond a reasonable doubt prove he was

From the article “Former Pediatrician Appeals ‘Waterboarding’ Conviction”, Melvin Morse, a former pediatrician, did not get a fair trial. Similarly, Tom Robinson from To Kill a Mockingbird also did not get a fair trial. A fair trial is a courtroom with an unprejudiced jury that listens to both sides of the situation without being biased. It’s a place where everyone is treated equally despite their looks and race. However, the prejudicial jury knew Tom Robinson is guilty before the trial begins. The jury judge Tom Robinson base on his looks and skin color instead of judging him on his statements. If a white person places himself in Tom Robinson’s shoes, they will realize Robinson is just like them, and he should not be treated like an animal.

Today in Maycomb County, there was a trail against a local African American man named “Tom Robinson.” He was accused for raping and beating up a white girl named “Mayella.” His lawyer is “Atticus Finch” is facing off against “Mr. Gilmer” the district attorney. Judge Taylor, appears to be sleeping through out the trial, yet pays attention and tends to chew his cigar. The supposed crime occurred in Mayella’s home, when Tom Robinson went to fix something and then he raped her.

In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, Tom Robinson has been accused of beating and raping Mayella Ewell. Tom was married and has three kids. He works for Link Deas picking cotton, pecans, and doing work around the yard for him. Tom acquired an injury one day in Mr. Dolphus Raymond’s cotton gin when he was little. Tom passes by the Ewell place every day to get to work. Tom is put on trial for his life because the claim made by the Ewells of rape. The case is basically the Ewell’s word verses Toms. During the case Mayella slips up on what really happen. Because of the type of injury Tom has, Mayella’s slips up on the stand, and the fact that Tom was already married, the jury should acquit Tom- finding him not guilty.

I think it was right for Atticus to take a stand for Tom Robinson because Atticus was trying to teach Jem and Scout to be wise, and to not be racist, because he didn’t want to put his kids in danger. Tom Robinson didn’t have the capability to stand up for himself. Tom Robinson was the kind of man who was too afraid of people because he was afraid that he was going to end up in jail or end up in a trial. If Atticus wouldn’t have helped Tom Robinson with the case, then Tom Robinson would most likely be put in jail permanently. What’s really good about Atticus is that he will do what he thinks is right even if other people disagree with him, “Yeah but Atticus aims to defend him, that’s what I don’t like about it” (Lee 218).

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I urge you to bring back a verdict to of guilty for Tom Robinson.

Lastly, a black man named Tom Robinson is also destroyed by racism. Tom Robinson is falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell who is a young white women. In the novel he is accused of raping Ewella simply due to his skin colour. Mayella’s abusive father, Bob Ewell uses Tom’s ignorance as an advantage, he proclaims that Tom Robinson is the guy who sexually assaults his daughter. Atticus decides to defend Tom Robinson because he believes that he is innocent. As he provides strong evidences that proves that Tom is innocent. At the trial, Atticus closes his argument with an outstanding closing statement that expresses his feelings towards the white jury’s view. He declares “ ‘(…) The witnesses for the state, with the exception of the sheriff of Maycomb County, have presented themselves to you gentlemen, to this court, in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted, confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption--the evil assumption--that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption one associates with minds of their caliber.’ ”(Lee 273) Atticus speech illustrates what the mind set of the people in Macomb is.

Do you know it is a sin to kill a mockingbird? Well not really , but there is a novel called To kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. This novel, like many others is about racial tensions in the south. These tensions completely altar the story like when Bob put Tom to trial, Tom had a racist jury, and the mob went to kill Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is a middle aged black man and Bob Ewell is a middle aged white man, and father to Mayella.

The prejudiced views in Maycomb County created a very chaotic future for the children. “ i don’t know how they could convict Tom Robinson, but they did it. They’ve done it again and again and when they do it-seems that only children weep.” (225) Tom Robinson symbolizes every ‘black’ person who has been wrongly convicted and prosecuted under this judicial system. Children are known to be unjudgemental and therefore are somewhat attached to Tom Robinson. They are oblivious to the false beliefs’ that society has instilled upon the community. The children are tremendously effected by the wrongful conviction of Tom Robison in the corrupted judicial system. Jem and Scout, who had seen Toms trails, were in shock to find out that their ‘perfect’

But soon after the supposed initial incident occurs, Atticus is assigned by Judge Taylor to take on the case due to his valuable attributes and optimistic personality. The trial officially commences in chapter 17 when Bob Ewell begins his testimony with crude and atrocious behavior that is unfavorable to both Judge Taylor and the audience in general. Bob Ewell claims to have seen Tom Robinson take full advantage of Mayella which he states is the cause for Mayella’s bruises that are scattered throughout her body and particularly on the right side of her face. Atticus then interjects by commanding Bob Ewell to sign his name on a piece of paper which then proves the fact that he is left-handed. Atticus concludes that the beating most likely was committed by a left-hand user such as Bob Ewell himself; However, the conclusion drives Bob Ewell to pure rage soon after he says that Atticus is nothing but a lawyer that is cheating and taking advantage of him.