Definition

Noun: - A judicial trial that is conducted primarily for public propaganda purposes rather than to impartially determine guilt or innocence. The verdict, and often the punishment, is predetermined by the authorities holding the trial. Its main function is to publicly humiliate the accused, intimidate onlookers, and showcase the power of the state.

Usage

• The term is used to describe a specific type of politically motivated judicial proceeding.
• It is typically used in historical, political, and journalistic contexts to criticize a legal process as being fundamentally unfair and staged.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• The concept can be applied metaphorically to any highly publicized process where the outcome is perceived as predetermined and the event is held for public effect rather than genuine inquiry.
  • Critics called the congressional hearing a political show trial designed to damage the nominee's reputation.

Variants and Related Words

• Kangaroo court (noun): An unofficial court set up to deliver a judgment that has been decided in advance, often in a summary or peremptory manner. While similar, "kangaroo court" can imply a less formal, more chaotic process, whereas "show trial" often implies a more elaborate, state-organized spectacle.
• Star chamber (noun): Historically, an English court that operated in secret. In modern usage, it can refer to any secretive or arbitrary tribunal.

Synonyms

• Staged trial
• Political trial
• Travesty of justice (a broader phrase that can encompass a show trial)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• A foregone conclusion: An outcome that is known or decided before the event takes place. This phrase describes the predetermined nature of a show trial's verdict.
  • Given the lack of a real defense, the verdict was a foregone conclusion.

Noun

1. a trial held for show; the guilt of the accused person has been decided in advance