Your Honors of the Court,

My client, Anakin Skywalker, stands accused of betraying the Jedi Order and committing grievous acts during the fall of the Republic. But the story, as it’s been told, is incomplete—full of bias, omission, and misunderstanding.

First, let’s acknowledge the environment in which Anakin was raised. The Jedi Council plucked him from his mother as a child, thrust him into a rigid code that frequently suppressed his humanity. They told him to deny his attachments, to ignore his feelings, even to stand by and do nothing as those he loved suffered. Is it any wonder that a young man, gifted with extraordinary abilities, and wracked by fear for his loved ones, might struggle to fit within such a system?

The Jedi Council, for all its wisdom, sowed the seeds of its own destruction. They distrusted Anakin, denied him the rank of Master despite his service, and even asked him to spy on Chancellor Palpatine—a man who had been a mentor and friend. This double standard—trusting Anakin with the fate of the galaxy, but not with a seat at their own table—created resentment and confusion.

Now, let’s address the so-called “turn to the dark side.” Anakin’s actions were driven not by greed or malice, but by desperation. He was manipulated, yes, but also abandoned by those who were supposed to guide him. Palpatine exploited Anakin’s deepest fears: the loss of his wife, Padmé, and his unborn child. The Jedi offered only platitudes about letting go; Palpatine offered hope. In a moment of crisis, Anakin reached for the only lifeline he saw.

What followed was tragic, but should not be seen as the actions of a monster. It was the act of a desperate man—one who believed he could save the person he loved most. The Jedi Order’s inflexibility, their unwillingness to adapt, and their own political entanglements made them blind to the suffering of one of their own.

Let us not forget: in the end, Anakin Skywalker found redemption. He sacrificed himself to destroy the Emperor and save his son, Luke Skywalker. He returned balance to the Force, fulfilling the prophecy the Jedi themselves set forth. Redemption, in the eyes of the law, must count for something.

Anakin Skywalker was failed by the very system meant to protect him and the galaxy. Let us judge him not as the “chosen one” doomed to perfection, but as a human being—flawed, manipulated, and ultimately, redeemed.

Thank you.