 The trial was one of the country 's most contentious legal proceedings and sometimes had a " circus @-@ like atmosphere " . Four hundred police officers were assigned to the site on the opening day of the trial . The defense deliberately antagonized the judge by making a large number of objections and motions , which led to numerous bitter engagements between the attorneys and Judge Medina . Despite the aggressive defense tactics and a voluminous letter @-@ writing campaign directed at Medina , he stated " I will not be intimidated " . Out of the chaos , an atmosphere of " mutual hostility " arose between the judge and attorneys . Judge Medina attempted to maintain order by removing disorderly defendants . In the course of the trial , Medina sent five of the defendants to jail for outbursts , including Hall because he shouted " I 've heard more law in a kangaroo court " , and Winston – an African American – for shouting " more than five thousand Negroes have been lynched in this country " . Several times in July and August , the judge held defense attorneys in contempt of court , and told them their punishment would be meted out upon conclusion of the trial . 
