Famous Trials That Captivated the Nation

In the past, to follow high-profile cases, the American public had to either sit in on a trial or wait for the paper to come out, outlining all the details of the courtroom proceedings. Thanks to radio and television, we can watch from home, scrutinizing every detail of a case and see how it proceeds almost daily through the United States legal system.

The recent high-profile trial of former president Donald Trump gave citizens a more detailed breakdown of how the process works but it wasn't the first – and it certainly won't be the last – case that dominated the headlines. Several famous trials have captivated the nation, from landmark cases that broke new legal ground to those that involved celebrities and others still that had surprising verdicts.

To gather this list of the most infamous US trials ever, 24/7 Tempo consulted different trial-related sources. These include Sea Coast Online, Famous Trials, and Britannica. (We have also listed 25 of the most brutal criminals who ever lived.)

This trial took place in 2013. It involved the killing of African-American teenager Trayvon Martin as he was walking home one night wearing a hoodie. The accused was George Zimmerman who claimed that he was acting in self-defence. The public and media followed the trial closely and Zimmerman was found 'not guilty'. Nevertheless, he was subsequently arrested several times for domestic violence.

This trial took place in 1995. It involved the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. The accused was OJ Simpson. The court proceedings gave rise to one of the most iconic moments in American legal history when OJ attempted to put on the glove found at the crime scene – to prove that it did not fit him. Simpson was found 'not guilty' but was later found guilty of robbing a Las Vegas casino for which he served almost nine years in jail.

This trial took place in 1971. It involved the murder of actress Sharon Tate and multiple others. The accused was Charles Manson who was the brains behind an operation that wanted to start a race war. Manson was found guilty and was never let out of prison – he died behind bars in 2017. He combined brutality with devious brain-washing which has made him a household name.

Roe v Wade was a landmark case from 1973 that protected the rights of women in the U.S. to have an abortion. It occurred around the same time as the surge in feminism. In 2022, the ruling was overturned. Now, women in many states can be prosecuted for having an abortion. It is still legal in Colorado and California.

Brown v Board of Education was a landmark case that required states to allow African-American students to attend schools with white students. The hearing took place in 1954 in the Supreme Court. The ruling was that segregation violated the 14th Amendment and it also applied to private schools. The decision helped millions of people get a better education.

This trial took place in 1979. It involved the murder of multiple women on the Florida State University campus. The accused was a well-spoken and conventionally attractive man called Ted Bundy. He was also an escapee from a Colorado prison! Bundy was found guilty and was executed in 1989.

This trial took place in 1935 but is still claimed by some to be the biggest murder trial ever held in New Jersey. It involved the kidnap and murder of Charles Lindbergh's son, Charles Lindbergh Jr. The accused was Bruno Hauptmann who vigorously protested his innocence. Nevertheless, he was guilty.

This trial took place in 1993. It involved the murders of José and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menéndez by their two sons. The brothers had allegedly killed their parents and then carried on as if nothing had happened. Even so, they were arrested and exposed for blowing their inheritance money – this is partly what alerted the police. At the trial, which was broadcast on Court TV, the brothers were both found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

This trial took place in 1997. It involved the deadliest domestic terrorist attack in United States history, namely the bombing of a building with a daycare in Oklahoma City. The accused was Timothy McVeigh, a decorated veteran who had a grudge against the United States government. McVeigh was found guilty and sentenced to death.

This trial took place in 2021. It involved the killing of George Floyd during the COVID-19 pandemic. The accused was Minneapolis Police Department Officer Derek Chauvin and the incident was captured on video. Even though Chauvin claimed he was acting in self-defence, he was found guilty and sentenced to more than 20 years in prison.

This trial took place in 1993. It involved the killing of several vulnerable people Jeffrey Dahmer. What's more, he consumed the bodies making it one of the rare cases of cannibalism to be reported in the United States. Dahmer tried to plead insanity but it was rejected by the court. Found guilty, he was sentenced to life in prison because Wisconsin had abolished the death penalty by the time of his trial. However, he was murdered in prison three years after getting locked up.

This trial took place in 1992. It involved the brutal beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles Police Officers. Even though the beating was filmed, the officers were found not guilty by the state court triggering widespread riots. Sadly, several innocent people were killed in the unrest. Finally, four officers who beat King were tried at the Federal level and two were found guilty. King died in 2012 after an accidental drowning in his own swimming pool.

This trial took place in 2015. It involved the assault of a teenage woman. The accused was Hollywood legend Bill Cosby and so the trial attracted a lot of public and media interest. Cosby vehemently denied the charge. Nevertheless, he was found guilty and sentenced to ten years in prison. Following a subsequent successful appeal, the actor was released but his reputation was in tatters.

This trial took place in 2011. It involved the murder of a young child, Caylee, allegedly by her mother, Casey Anthony. Anthony originally claimed her daughter was kidnapped by a nanny. However, when the child's body was found, Anthony was charged with her murder. She received a 'not guilty' verdict.

This trial took place in 1995. It involved the assault of minors and the accused was the famous singer, Michael Jackson. The allegations shocked his fans all over the world. Even though he was found 'not guilty', other accusations were made later. Despite all this, Jackson is considered one of the best musical artists of all time.

This trial took place in 2004. It involved the killing of Laci Peterson in December 2002 - she was pregnant at the time. The accused was her husband, Scott Peterson. Her body was not found until April 2003 and shortly after, Peterson was arrested. Even though he denied any involvement, he was found guilty and sentenced to death which was later lessened to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

This trial took place in 2022. It involved the possession of indecent child images. The accused was rapper R. Kelly who was a hugely successful music artist. Kelly was found guilty and sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison. Later, several of his former female partners disclosed details of his bizarre sexual preferences.

This trial took place in 2011. It involved the alleged manslaughter of famous singer Michael Jackson through prescription drugs. The accused man was Jackson's private physician, Conrad Murray. The case was headline news and appeared on news bulletins all over the world. Murray was found guilty and received a sentence of four years in jail. However, he only served two before he was released.

This trial took place in 1989. It involved serial killing and sex offending on a horrific scale. The accused, Richard Ramirez, conducted a murder spree that terrorized the residents of Greater Los Angeles and later the San Francisco Bay Area over fourteen months. Dubbed the Night Stalker by the press, his reign of terror ran from April 1984 to August 1995. Found guilty, he received the death penalty. He died from cancer before the state of California could execute him. For more criminal-related content, click here to read about the most infamous crime committed in every state.