Legal Definitions - show trial

A show trial is a type of trial that is held in a country that is not democratic. The main purpose of a show trial is to spread propaganda, and the outcome of the trial is already decided before it even begins.

• In the Soviet Union, during the 1930s, many people were put on trial for crimes they did not commit. These trials were show trials, and the outcome was already decided by the government.
• In North Korea, many people are put on trial for crimes against the state. These trials are also show trials, and the outcome is already decided by the government.

These examples illustrate the definition of a show trial because in both cases, the trials were held in countries that are not democratic. The main purpose of the trials was to spread propaganda, and the outcome was already decided before the trial began. In both cases, the people who were put on trial were not given a fair trial, and the government used the trials to control the population and spread their message.