Conventional Wisdom: The Courtroom Trial in American Popular Culture

Marquette Law Review, Vol. 82, P. 472, 1999

Posted: 28 Aug 1999

See all articles by David Ray Papke

David Ray Papke

Marquette University - Law School

Abstract

This article has three parts. The first establishes the ubiquitous image of the courtroom trial in popular American literature, film, and television. The second explores the core features of this common pop cultural convention. The third critiques the courtroom trial convention and comments on its ramifications. What does the convention tell us about the courts, the legal profession, and American society in general? How should we think about the courtroom trial the next time we encounter it in a novel, a movie, or a television show? How should we respond to the "conventional wisdom" of the courtroom trial in American popular culture?

Suggested Citation

Papke, David Ray, Conventional Wisdom: The Courtroom Trial in American Popular Culture. Marquette Law Review, Vol. 82, P. 472, 1999, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=169122

David Ray Papke (Contact Author)

Marquette University - Law School ( email )

Eckstein Hall
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201
United States

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