The Dark Side of Thomas Jefferson

Legal historians often privilege legal doctrine in their work, which is understandable since the lawyers, paying homage to stare decisis in their briefs, cite old rules to create new ones. Doctrinal arguments—about evidence, trial procedure, and treason law among other issues—did figure prominently in the trial and have to be treated seriously. But learned lawyer talk was inseparably connected to political ideology, which in turn was refracted by the character traits of those involved. Character influenced the outcome of the trial; and the trial, as trials often do, cast a bright light on character.