Yep, all these reasons are why I honestly never liked this episode much. Riker succeeds in only demonstrating that Data's a machine, something literally no one in the case is questioning.

If I push this button Data turns off and 'stops ' if I put a hypospray up to your neck and shove you in a cryotube I accomplish the exact same thing. Data's arm can be removed and reattached doctors can surgically remove and reattach a humans arm even today. Data's comparative strength to humans Vulcans, and Klingons have greater strength than humans too. And of course that's the first thing Riker does during the trial.ДЄll of Riker's points are incredibly specious. This is to prevent 'trial by ambush' where one side presents evidence or information during the case that the opposing council does not have time to obtain answering evidence. Meaning Riker would have had to tell Picard what evidence and witnesses he was going to present, and vice versa.

This was a civil case so there should have been a discovery period. And no one brings up the experts' ruling during the whole 'is Data sentient debate'. Now, however many years later, that panels findings are thrown out and invalidated by this judge. The panel affirms that Data is sentient and can enlist with just one dissenter (the plaintiff in this case). Is she trying to get fired or something?ДЄs was stated earlier in the episode, an entire panel of experts was convened to determine if Data was sentient and therefore be allowed to enlist in Starfleet. Really? She's forcing someone to argue against their friend by threatening that friend. 'You must act as prosecutor against your friend and argue a position you don't believe in or your friend's a toaster and gets taken apart'. Riker is compelled to act as prosecutor against his friend and a subordinate officer, conflict of interest four. Riker is arguing a case against his commanding officer, conflict of interest two and three. The judge and defense council have a personal, seemingly previous sexual relationship, conflict of interest one. What the actual fuck? How are Data and Maddox ok with that? Neither of them object and say 'hey we have spaceships, how about you put some lawyers on one of those and fly them here while we wait for a couple weeks?' But no for no reason at all there seemingly a time crunch and this needs to be settled so quickly that they can't wait for proper lawyers. There are no attorneys present on this starbase, so the judge just compels two command officers with no legal training to act as both prosecutor and defense council. I know people love this episode but I can never get past how bad the law is in this.

Unimatrix Zero, Part I & II (Sun, Aug 25).

The Haunting of Deck Twelve (Wed, Aug 21).

Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy (Sun, Jun 9).

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Tng measure of a man