Clarence Darrow statue and bronze relief

Clarence Darrow (April 18, 1857 - March 13, 1938) was a renowned American lawyer who rose to prominence in the late 19th century for his high-profile defense of labor and trade union causes. In the 20th century, he became nationally known for several major criminal cases, including the Leopold and Loeb murder trial in Chicago (1924), the Scopes "Monkey" Trial in Dayton, Tennessee (July 10–21, 1925), and the Ossian Sweet defense in Detroit (1925–1926). He was a leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union and a vocal advocate for Georgist economic reform. Darrow was also widely recognized as a powerful public speaker, debater and writer.

The Scopes Monkey Trial, officially titled The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes, was a landmark 1925 legal case that drew national attention to the conflict between science and religion in public education. Clarence Darrow defended John T. Scopes, a high school science teacher charged with illegally teaching evolution, while William Jennings Bryan served as the prosecuting attorney.

The sculpture honoring Darrow now stands fittingly on the front lawn of the Rhea County Courthouse, the site of the historic trial. The 7-foot bronze statue faces a statue of his courtroom adversary, William Jennings Bryan, which was installed in 2005 on the opposite lawn. Together, the two statues represent the pivotal legal and cultural debate between science and religion—a conversation that continues in American education today.

The Darrow sculpture also features a bronze relief of Darrow and Bryan in discussion, embedded into the side of the base. The rust-colored granite base was designed to complement the tones and textures of the historic courthouse. The statue was unveiled during the annual Scopes Trial Festival, celebrating Darrow’s legacy and the enduring significance of the trial.

Statue size: 7-foot high statue
Base: Granite, 3-foot high, relief sculpture of Darrow and Bryan on side
Relief sculpture: Relief sculpture of Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan
Media: Bronze statue and relief sculpture
Dedication: July 14, 2017
Location: Rhea County Courthouse, Dayton, Tennessee
Inscription on Plinth: CLARENCE DARROW
ATTORNEY FOR THE DEFENSE