Mock Trial: State v. Mann

Your Honor… gentlemen of the Jury, we are gathered here today to argue whether the defendant’s treatment of that slave woman is deserving of a $5 fine. You good sir, whipped this young lady, for some trifling offense, which of course prompted an escape attempt… and you shot her with her back turned. We find your actions cruel, unwarranted by, and extremely disproportionate to the offense, indicting you with assault and battery. Although lesser in many ways, these people are doubtless human just like us; fellow image-bearers of the Creator. They breathe oxygen and bleed red, which I’m certain is a color you are very acquainted with seeing. In that case, this should truly be a charge of attempted murder in which, we could subject you to branding of a hot iron or loss of your ears, yet we’re only asking for $5.  

The word of the Lord says, “Masters should treat their servants justly and equally, knowing that they also have a master in heaven.” And if we consider the fact that you were not even her slave master, the Lord says to “Love your neighbor” and to “Do to others what you would have them do unto you.” You failed on both of these counts. How would you enjoy being brutally whipped and beaten for a trifling offense? Not only that, but then shot in your back afterward? Gentlemen of the Jury, I’m sure there are other slaveholders among you, you all should understand the most grievous aspect of his actions were that he subjected a helpless woman to his torment. I’m certain that even those among you who hold slaves have the common decency to not subject your women to the same pain that only a man could endure! 

How much is a human life worth? Anyone? $100? $1,000? $100,000? I doubt anyone in this room could give me an answer. Especially if I asked you how much money to buy you or your child. However, for argument’s sake, let’s briefly indulge the idea that these slaves are indeed not human. You all easily place a price on their lives at these auction blocks, yet, subconsciously understanding the abundant value of a human life, you make the price very costly. Not only that, but the cost of a slave is so great that only the wealthiest can afford, which I’m all but certain you understand Mr. Mann, considering you don’t own a single one. In your Creator’s eyes you harmed your neighbor brutally and almost stole something that can’t have a price placed on it. In your eyes, you still at the very least damaged a very expensive piece of property. Despite all of this, we are only subjecting you to a comparingly small fine of $5. Your Honor, if we begin rendering the value of human life obsolete, I fear greatly for the state of nature that this country’s headed towards. Thank you, Your Honor. 

Though I believe my argument is strong at appealing to the morality of the listener, emotions are not what a judge uses in a courtroom. We could have had strong arguments from history, ethics, norms/traditions, or religion and morality, but it wouldn't have made a difference. A court is concerned with the law and though the State had a good argument about the fact that Mr. Mann wasn't the owner of Lydia, Mann had much more law and precedent supporting his side and I wasn't all too surprised once the judge handed down his verdict in his favor much like how it went in real life.