Call for Proposals: Star Trek and the CourtroomAn Edited Collection on Justice, Law, and the Trial in Star Trek

We invite proposals for an edited volume examining trial and courtroom episodes across the Star Trek franchise. From “Court Martial” (TOS) to “Ad Astra per Aspera” (SNW), Star Trek has used the trial format to explore questions of personhood, justice, military law, civil rights, ethical responsibility, and the limits of legal systems. These episodes serve as philosophical laboratories, testing the boundaries of law when confronted with, for example, artificial intelligence, alien cultures, time travel, and evolving definitions of sentience and citizenship.

This collection seeks scholarly essays that engage with trial (or trial-like) episodes from any Star Trek series or film, examining them through lenses including but not limited to: legal theory, philosophy of law, political theory, ethics, disability studies, critical race theory, gender and sexuality studies, postcolonial theory, science and technology studies, media studies, or comparative legal systems. We welcome both single-episode analyses and comparative studies across multiple series or episodes.

We encourage proposals that use Star Trek episodes as windows into real legal proceedings, doctrines, precedents, and contemporary legal debates. Contributions from legal practitioners, attorneys, judges, and legal scholars are especially welcome, as are collaborative proposals pairing legal professionals with humanities scholars or media studies experts. Essays might compare fictional Star Trek trials to landmark cases, analyze how episodes illuminate current legal controversies, or use Trek’s courtroom dramas to make accessible complex areas of jurisprudence. Further, we welcome international perspectives, including comparative analyses with legal systems and landmark cases from around the world.

Submission Guidelines

Please submit a proposal of approximately 300-400 words that includes:

• The episode(s) under consideration

• Your theoretical or methodological approach

• The central argument or question your chapter will address

• The broader significance of your analysis

• If applicable, connections to real legal cases, doctrines, or current legal issues

Please also include a short biographical statement for each author (100-150 words) noting institutional affiliation (as applicable), professional background (including legal practice or bar admission, if relevant), research interests, and relevant publications or expertise.

Proposals will be carefully reviewed for clarity, purpose, and contribution to the collection’s larger scholarly conversation. Multiple proposals may be accepted for the same episode or episodes, if they offer distinct perspectives or methodologies. Collaborative proposals from interdisciplinary author teams are encouraged, particularly those pairing legal expertise with media studies, philosophy, or other humanities perspectives. In addition, we welcome submissions from international scholars as well as legal professionals.

Important Dates

• Proposal Deadline: June 1, 2026

• Invitations for Full Chapters sent: July 1, 2026

• Full Chapter Deadline: October 1, 2026

Chapter Specifications

• Length: 4,000-6,000 words (inclusive of all notes and bibliography)

• Citation Style: Chicago Manual of Style, 18th edition

• Language: American English

• All accepted chapters will undergo peer review

• Authors will be required to acknowledge they did not use Generative artificial intelligence to compose the submission

• Publication specifications: Based on academic press guidelines (to be announced)

Submission

Please send a single PDF that includes the proposal and a biographical statement for each author to: startrekbk@gmail.com 

Queries can also be submitted to that email. We look forward to receiving your proposals.

Craig A. Meyer and Daniel Preston

Interested, but need some ideas? Check out the Ideas page with possible episodes and topic ideas. Or the CFP Home Page.