The Trial of J.
Robert Oppenheimer
A 10-Minute Skit
Characters:
1. Judge - Oversees the trial.
2. Prosecutor - Argues against Oppenheimer.
3. Defense Lawyer - Represents Oppenheimer.
4. J. Robert Oppenheimer - The defendant.
5. Witness 1 (Scientist) - A scientist who worked on the Manhattan Project.
6. Witness 2 (Civilian) - A survivor from Hiroshima/Nagasaki.
7. Court Clerk - Handles court formalities.
8. Jury Members - Silent, seated in the background.
Scene 1: Courtroom Setup
(The stage is set as a courtroom. The Judge sits in the center, with the Prosecutor and Defense Lawyer on
either side. Oppenheimer sits at the defendant's table.)
Clerk: All rise! The court is now in session, presided over by Judge Martin. You may be seated.
Judge: We are gathered here to examine the actions of Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, the "father of the atomic
bomb," and whether his work on the Manhattan Project was justified. Prosecutor, you may begin.
Prosecutor: (standing) Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the Manhattan Project led to the creation
of a weapon of mass destruction that claimed over 200,000 lives in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Dr.
Oppenheimer's choices must be scrutinized.
Defense Lawyer: Objection! My client was a scientist, not a policymaker. He acted under orders and believed
his work would end the war swiftly.
Judge: Overruled. Continue, Prosecutor.
Prosecutor: Dr. Oppenheimer, you once quoted the Bhagavad Gita, saying, "Now I am become Death, the
destroyer of worlds." Do you stand by this statement?
Oppenheimer: (calmly) I said those words to reflect the magnitude of what we had unleashed, not to glorify it.
I carried the burden of our creation's consequences every day.
Scene 2: Witness Testimonies
(Judge motions for the first witness.)
Judge: Call the first witness.
Clerk: The court calls Dr. Sarah Collins, a physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project.
(Witness enters and takes the stand.)
Prosecutor: Dr. Collins, what was your role in the Manhattan Project?
Witness 1: I worked on the theoretical designs of the bomb. At the time, we believed we were preventing
greater loss of life by ending the war.
Defense Lawyer: Were there any doubts among the team?
Witness 1: Yes. Many of us feared the moral implications, but we trusted the leaders and hoped for peace.
(Judge motions for the second witness.)
Judge: Call the second witness.
Clerk: The court calls Ms. Aiko Tanaka, a survivor from Hiroshima.
(Witness enters, visibly emotional.)
Prosecutor: Ms. Tanaka, can you describe the day the bomb was dropped?
Witness 2: (pausing) It was a bright morning. Then, a blinding light... and everything was gone. My family,
my city - all destroyed.
Defense Lawyer: Ms. Tanaka, do you believe Dr. Oppenheimer is personally responsible for your loss?
Witness 2: I believe he created the weapon, but the decision to use it was not his alone.
Scene 3: Closing Statements
(Prosecutor and Defense Lawyer make their final arguments.)
Prosecutor: Dr. Oppenheimer's work created a weapon that changed humanity forever. His actions cannot be
excused.
Defense Lawyer: Dr. Oppenheimer acted as a scientist serving his country. He sought to prevent greater
destruction, not cause it.
Judge: The jury will now deliberate.
(Jury members whisper among themselves. After a moment, they hand a note to the Judge.)
Judge: Dr. Oppenheimer, while history will continue to debate your actions, this court finds you... (pauses) not
guilty of moral wrongdoing, but guilty of creating a legacy we must grapple with.
(Oppenheimer nods solemnly. The stage fades to black.)
The End.
