Legal Definitions - cause célèbre

A cause célèbre refers to a legal case that attracts widespread public attention and debate due to its unusual circumstances, the prominence of the parties involved, or its significant social and political implications.

Here are some examples:

• The Scopes Monkey Trial in 1925 became a cause célèbre. A high school teacher was accused of violating a Tennessee law that prohibited the teaching of evolution in public schools. The trial drew immense national and international media coverage, pitting prominent lawyers William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow against each other in a dramatic courtroom battle. The case was sensational not just for its legal arguments but for sparking a national debate about science, religion, and academic freedom, making it a focal point of cultural conflict.

• The criminal prosecution of financier Bernie Madoff for orchestrating a massive Ponzi scheme became a significant cause célèbre. Madoff, a respected figure on Wall Street, defrauded thousands of investors, including charities and celebrities, out of billions of dollars. The scale of the fraud, the betrayal of trust by a seemingly legitimate financial professional, and the devastating impact on countless lives made the case a subject of intense public fascination, outrage, and extensive media scrutiny, highlighting issues of financial regulation and corporate ethics.