"Criminal Justice" During the Long Eighteenth Century: Theatre, Representation & Emotion in the Courtroom & the Public Sphere

This conference addresses important changes in the representation of crime, litigation, and justice in Britain over the period 1660-1850, and particularly the constitution of public opinion about justice by "performances" which touched the emotions. The principal objective is to encourage a second wave of historical studies relating to the "theatre" of justice in this period; one that builds upon earlier work by transcending the boundary between courtrooms and the public gaze and recognizing the importance of representation and performance.