Preview the pilot episode of World on Trial

Penn State Public Broadcasting released a preview of the pilot episode World on Trial, an educational television and interactive web series, that brings together the best legal talent in the world to argue both sides of sharply contested human rights issues. “It’s extremely gratifying to see the pilot episode coming together,” said Phil McConnaughay, dean of the Penn State University Dickinson School of Law and an executive producer of the series. “In addition to the courtroom arguments viewers get a look inside how juries from around the world would debate these issues as they render verdicts.”

Conceived of and hosted by acclaimed human rights advocate, author and Penn State Law Professor Randall Robinson, the program challenges viewers by exploring the tension between universalist and culturally-relative notions of human rights, and the various defenses available to states with respect to alleged human rights abuses within their control. 

World on Trial is filmed before a live jury. Remote juries at partner universities throughout the world view films of the trial and also render verdicts. Verdicts are reported at the conclusion of each episode. The pilot episode deals with the French law forbidding the wearing of conspicuous religious garb in public schools. 

For more information about the program, visit worldontrial.psu.edu.