Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Shakespeare and the Law/the Law and Shakespeare

Several of Shakespeare's plays have inspired mock trials or legal arguments in the U.S. Last year a court composed of several real Supreme Court justices and other federal judges decided whether Henry V was justified in his slaughter of French prisoners of war. C-Span's recording of the event, Judgment at Agincourt, is here. An article about the event is found here.
1h 49min, no transcript
In 1997, litigants argued a case involving the inheritance rights of the Shakespearean character and historical figure, Richard III, who was accused of ordering the murder of his two nephews. Chief Justice Rehnquist, Justice Ginsburg and Justice Breyer comprised the tribunal which decided the case. C-Span's recording of the event is here.
1h 13 min, no transcript.
In 1994, the trial of Hamlet for the murder of Polonius was held and can be seen here.
2h 9 min, no transcript.