Although it’s one of the worlds most legendary science fiction shows, Star Trek has always dabbled with format and genre’s, all dressed up behind deep space adventures. Whether using the holodeck for a touch of fantasy, or diving into the horrors of war through Deep Space Nine’s run, the variety of story telling never seems to fit one mould. But out of all the different tales told in the wonderful world of Starfleet, one that always promises to deliver is the court room drama.
This month we’re diving into the most captivating of Star Trek’s courtroom drama’s with a Fistful of Justice!
AD ASTRA PER ASPERA
Strange New Worlds, Season 2
One of the most modern examples of Strar Trek’s court room drama saw Pike’s own Number One, Una-Chin Reilly, under court martial for a serious breach of Starfleet regulation after Command learns that after all her years of service, she’d hidden her true identity as an Illyrian. Illyrians embrace genetic augmentation, particularly in colonisation to adapt themselves to a world instead of destroying it’s nature. Problem is, following the ban on genetic engineering after the Third World War brought super-soldiers like Khan Noonien Singh to power, the lie of her true species mean not only being stripped of her commission, but facing imprisonment.
Digging into Chin-Reilly’s past, and why she was determined to join Starfleet, the episode shows her surrounded by friends and colleges ready to fight for her the same way she would fight for them while also highlighting how Starfleet’s own prejudice not only caused her great harm in the past, but their kindness ans strength was something inspiring.
THE DRUMHEAD
The Next Generation, Season 4
Following an act of suspected sabotage on the Enterprise, and learning that there is very likely a Romulan spy behind it, retired Admiral Norah Satie heads to the Enterprise to lead the investigation into what really happened and find who is responsible. But as time goes by it becomes clear that Satie isn’t looking for an explanation, she’s looking for an answer that suits a very biased stance.
As things escalate out of control and blame is placed on a crewman with some slight Romulan ancestor, even Picard ends up in the firing line as Satie begins to create a conspiracy in her own head, leading the trial through fear-mongering without fact or reason. As the investigation unravels around them, and even Worf buying into her mindset, it takes Picard standing up for himself aftrer being accused of treason and collusion, pushing back against ruining careers out of paranoia and showing Satie just how off the deep end she’d become.
THE MENAGERIE
The Original Series, Season 1
While the simply titled episode Court Martial tends to run higher on people’s lists, the Menagerie is a surprising two parter that puts Spock on trial. Falsifying a message from his former Captain, Spock goes on to manipulate the crew in order to kidnap a severely injured Captain Pike and hijack the Enterprise. Giving up himself, but not the ship or his personal mission, Spock’s evidence in his court martial is a historical record showing Pike in his prime and the people who can give him a second chance at life.
Using footage of the rejected first pilot, The Cage, the Menagerie becomes two stories in one. Pike being trapped by advanced beings, and Spock in the present day breaking al the rules out of loyalty and respect for his old Captain.
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
Deep Space Nine, Season 4
Commanding the Defiant on an escort mission and in combat with Klingons, Worf spotted a ship decloaking and gave the order to fire. Only later did he find out they were civilians. 441 dead. The question is, in the situation he was in, with barely any time to react – can Worf justify his actions as Captain? The Klingons don’t believe so, and have sent Ch’Pok, one of their prosecutors, to have him stand trial.
Represented by Sisko as the Klingon’s present their evidence against Worf, this is one of the few where they don’t insult his choosing Starfleet, but try to force Worf to show his unstable warrior instinct as an excuse to scapegoat him back to the Klingon justice system right up to pushing all the right buttons for a court room brawl. But can the evidence be relied on? Why was a civilian ship decloaking in the middle of a skirmish? Through different perspectives each decision is analysed until the question is asked… who was on that ship? And why is the casualty list showing people who were already dead…?
THE MEASURE OF A MAN
The Next Generation Season 1
When a visiting tech bro visits the Enterprise keen to whisk Data away to dissect him and figure out how he worked, Data’s resignation from Starfleet becomes a battle for his rights as cybernetics expert Bruce Maddox argues that as a machine, Data is more property than person and unable to deny orders on the grounds of self determination.
A simple and straight forward court room drama, Measure of a Man had the oddity of Riker being opposing council against Picard as he did his best to fight against his instinct to prove Data is merely a machine while Picard endeavoured to prove he was far more. The arguments and the breakdown all boil down to a scene with no court room, and no Data. Instead it’s Picard and Guinan in Ten Forward with the bar tender framing the case in a way Picard hadn’t expected.
It’s not just a fight for Data’s right as an individual, but against the Federation developing what would be an immortal, disposable species whilst denying both their sentience and their rights.
While the first seasons of The Next Generation struggled to find the shows voice, Measure of a Man was one of the earliest greats that kept things simple with a moral battle and character study that resonated for decades beyond it’s time.
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