William Jennings Byran had been the Democratic nominee for president three times. He was a prominent national figure. He argued for the prosecution against a high school teacher, John Scopes. Scopes was accused of violating Tennessee law which prohibited the teaching of evolution in any state-funded school.
Arguing for Scopes' defense was Clarence Darrow, a well-known defense attorney and a leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Scopes was found guilty. But then the verdict was appealed to the Tennessee Supreme Court, which set aside the conviction because of a legal technicality that the original trial has failed to observe.
The "Scopes Monkey Trial," as it is sometimes called, was a key event in creation vs. evolution debates in this country.