University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association American Judges Association 2009 The Case of Standing Bear: Establishing Personhood under the Law Joe Starita University of Nebraska - Lincoln,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/ajacourtreview Starita, Joe, "The Case of Standing Bear: Establishing Personhood under the Law" (2009). Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association. 287. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/ajacourtreview/287 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the American Judges Association at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Court Review: The Journal of the American Judges Association by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. The Case of Standing Bear: Establishing Personhood under the Law Joe Starita t ten o’clock on the morning of May 1, 1879, in Omaha, Yes, for the most part, the witness said. Nebraska, U.S. District Court Judge Elmer Dundy’s The young agency store clerk left the stand and Lieutenant Agavel smacked against a wooden bench and the trial of Carpenter, the arresting officer, was sworn in as the second Ma-chu-nah-zha v. George Crook1 was officially underway. witness. Standing Bear’s attorney again focused on dress and Delayed by heavy spring rains and widespread flooding, the work habits. judge had just arrived from Lincoln the night before, but now When you arrested the prisoners, he asked, were they wear- he was settled at the bench and he asked the attorneys repre- ing citizens’ clothing? senting Standing Bear to call their first witness.