Great American Court Cases | Andrew Johnson Trial

Prosecution
United States Senate

Defendant
President Andrew Johnson

Crime Charged
"High Crimes and Misdemeanors" within the meaning of Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution.

Chief Prosecutors
Seven "trial managers" from the House of Representatives

Chief Defense Lawyers
William Maxwell Evarts, Benjamin R. Curtis

Judges
The United States Senate, with Chief Justice Salmon Portland Chase presiding

Place
Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision
26 May 1868

Decision
Not to impeach.

Significance
The U.S. Congress for the first time exercised its constitutional prerogative to try a president of the United States for impeachable offenses. Johnson survived the Senate impeachment trial by one vote, but his hopes for re-election in 1868 were destroyed. Johnson was succeeded by the...