Synopsis of Class: October 5, 2000

The Trial of Satan

judge On this day, students presented prosecution and defense arguments in the trial of Satan, the charge being that of treason against God's just rule. Students could bring forward any arguments provided they substantiated them with quotations from Paradise Lost or other texts. Each council had the right to object to a line of questioning provided they supplied a clear argument for their objection, after which the judge decided on admissability.

The structure of the trial was quadrapartite:

1) opening arguments from both councils.
2) the questioning of God (who chose to take the form of Dr. Angelica (and that's no pseudonym) Duran, a professor in the Purdue English department and a Milton scholar). Questioning of this witness was conducted by first the prosecution, then the defense.
3) the questioning of Satan who chose to appear as Dr. Shaun Hughes, another professor in the English department and a medieval and Renaissance scholar. This witness was questioned by first the prosecution and then the defense.
4) closing arguments from first the prosecution and then the defense.

In addition, Dr. Kristina Bross (yet another professor in the English department and a Puritan scholar) served in the capacity of bailiff. The trial itself was conducted by his honor, Dr. Dino Felluga.

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