Costume vs. Courtroom: Why a Trekkie Was Kicked Off a Trial That Shaped a Presidency

In 1996, a Star Trek fan named Barbara Adams showed up for federal jury duty wearing a full Starfleet uniform—tricorder, phaser, and all. She wasn’t just making a statement… she was making headlines. In this episode of The Prime Detective, Grayson investigates the real-life consequences of one woman’s cosplay in a courtroom tied to the Whitewater scandal, and how fandom sometimes finds its way into the halls of power.

Links:
The Spokesman Review/AP: Star Trek fan Dismissed from Whitewater Jury

International Federation of Trekkers

Barbara Adams at Hidden Little Rock

“Trekkies” review at Entertainment Weekly

The Washington Post’s Whitewater archive

Credits:
This episode of “The Prime Detective” was produced and hosted by Grayson Thagard.

Music for “The Prime Detective” is composed by Ben Wise: https://benwise.bandcamp.com/

Artwork for “The Prime Detective” is by Julie Hendrickson.

Website and publishing support thanks to David Moody, Producer: “Let’s Talk About Treks” The Podcast.

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