Trial of Ahsoka Tano

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"Ahsoka Tano. You have been charged with sedition against the Jedi Order and the Republic itself. This court will decide your fate."

―Sheev Palpatine^[2]

Former Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano was put on trial shortly before the end of the Clone Wars, after Tano was charged with sedition against the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic for her alleged role in the bombing of the Jedi Temple hangar. The charges came after she visited with Letta Turmond, who was being held as a suspect in the case, and Turmond was Force choked to death while Tano was in her cell.

Tano was then imprisoned, but escaped. However, she was eventually caught and brought to the trial, but not before being cast out of the Jedi Order and stripped of her Padawan braid. She was represented by Padmé Amidala, who sought desperately to find a way to clear her client, but with little success.

Ultimately, Tano was cleared of the charges because the Jedi Knight who was her master, Anakin Skywalker, conducted his own investigation and discovered that the crime Tano had been accused of had in fact been committed by Barriss Offee, a Jedi Padawan who had grown disillusioned with the behavior of the Jedi Order during the Clone Wars. Afterwards, Tano was invited to rejoin the Jedi Order, but refused; she felt betrayed by them and stated that she had to follow her own path before leaving the Temple.

Prelude[]

Mace Windu: "It is the Council's opinion that Padawan Ahsoka Tano has committed sedition against the Republic, and thus she will be expelled from the Jedi Order."

Anakin Skywalker: "You can't do this!"

Ki-Adi-Mundi: "Your Padawan status will be stripped from you, and you shall forfeit all rank and privileges within the Grand Army of the Republic. You will be turned over to the Republic court to await your trial, and whatever punishment they will set for you. Henceforth, you are barred from the Jedi Order."

―Mace Windu, Anakin Skywalker, and Ki-Adi-Mundi^[2]

WolffeStunsAhsoka — Clone Commander CC-3636 stunned Ahsoka Tano after finding her in a warehouse full of nano-droids.

During the Clone Wars, Padawan Barriss Offee—believing the Jedi Order and Galactic Republic had lost their way—orchestrated a terrorist attack against the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, killing several Jedi, clone troopers, and civilians. She then framed her friend and fellow Jedi Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, for the bombing of the temple hangar,^[6] as well as the murder of Offee's co-conspirator, Letta Turmond.^[7]^[2]

Desperate to clear her name, Tano fled to the Coruscant Underworld^[7] and ultimately enlisted the aid of the former Separatist assassin Asajj Ventress. She also contacted Offee for help, which Offee used to lure Tano into a trap. As a result, Tano was captured by Clone Commander CC-3636.^[1] Despite the Jedi High Council's intention to conduct an internal trial, the Galactic Senate requested Tano's banishment from the Jedi Order, arguing that a Jedi trial would appear biased. After considering the evidence against Tano, including the nano-droids in the warehouse where she was captured, the High Council expelled her. Tano was then transferred to the custody of the Republic Military.^[2]

The trial[]

"Former Padawan Tano, I shall prove that you were the mastermind behind the attack on the Jedi Temple. That once your accomplices carried out your orders, you eliminated them one-by-one. When you are found guilty, I ask the court that the full extent of the law be brought down upon you, including penalty of death!"

―Wilhuff Tarkin^[2]

RepublicMiliaryCourtroom-TWJ — Ahsoka Tano's trial was held in the Republic Center of Military Operations.

The trial of Ahsoka Tano was held in the massive Court Chamber of the Republic Center for Military Operations. Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine presided over the proceedings, flanked by his red-robed guards. A manacled Tano was escorted to a floating platform where she was then moved to the center of the hall. On either side, senators, who were serving as the jury, were seated in rows of ten or twelve. The Jedi High Council, observing the trial, sat in another row above the senators.^[2]

TarkinProscecutor — The trial's prosecutor, Admiral Wilhuff Tarkin, sought the penalty of death for the crime of treason of which Tano was accused.

On the left side of Tano, the prosecution was situated, with the lead prosecutor being Admiral Wilhuff Tarkin. On the right side was the defense, represented by Senator Padmé Amidala. Palpatine, as judge of the court, spoke first, relaying the charges against Tano and stating that the court would decide her fate. He then told Tarkin to begin his arguments, to which Tarkin vowed to prove that Tano was guilty not only of the bombing, but eliminating her co-conspirators one-by-one. He also asked the court that the full extent of the law be brought down upon Tano, including the death penalty.^[2]

Amidala made an impassioned plea in Tano's defense, revealing to the court that Turmond had called a meeting with Tano to reveal the identity of the true mastermind behind the bombing, but was strangled to death by way of the Force before she could do so. She asked why Tano would kill Turmond in a manner that would so easily implicate her. However, Tarkin was unimpressed and pointed out that Tano had been seen in the company of Asajj Ventress, a known Separatist terrorist. Tano protested that Ventress had framed her, but her protests rang hollow. Eventually, the closing arguments settled. Palpatine told the jury he was sure that many of them did not believe Tano was the culprit, but reminded them of all the times they had been fooled by the Separatists and suggested that Tano was yet another scheme to rip the Jedi and the Republic apart.^[2]

BarrissInCourt-TWJ — Tano was cleared of all charges following the arrest and confession of Barriss Offee.

Meanwhile, Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker—Tano's former master who still believed her to be innocent—had conducted his own investigation which led him to Offee. After a lengthy duel with the treacherous Padawan, Skywalker and the Jedi Temple Guards overpowered and captured her. Back in the court room, Senator Mot-Not Rab announced that the jury had reached a decision. However, just as Palpatine was about to read the verdict, Skywalker burst in with Offee. Tano was shocked to learn that her friend had been setting her up.^[2] Offee finally admitted her guilt, but remained adamant in her belief that the Jedi and the Republic had lost their way.^[6] Palpatine then ordered that Offee be taken away, and all charges against Tano were dropped.^[2]

Aftermath[]

Anakin Skywalker: "Ahsoka, I am so sorry, about everything."

Plo Koon: "You have our most humble apologies, little 'Soka. The Council was wrong to accuse you."

Saesee Tiin: "You have shown such great strength and resilience in your struggle to prove your innocence."

Ki-Adi-Mundi: "This is the true sign of a Jedi Knight."

Mace Windu: "This was actually your great trial. Now we see that. We understand that the Force works in mysterious ways, and because of this trial you have become a greater Jedi than you would have otherwise."

Yoda: "Back into the Order, you may come."

Anakin Skywalker: "They're asking you back Ahsoka… I'm asking you back."

Ahsoka Tano: "I'm sorry master, but I'm not coming back."

―Anakin Skywalker, Plo Koon, Saesee Tiin, Mace Windu, Yoda, and Ahsoka Tano^[2]

AhsokaLeavesTheOrder — Tano chose not to return to the Jedi Order despite her master Anakin Skywalker's plea to remain with the Jedi.

Afterwards, Tano was released by the Republic and returned to the Jedi Temple, where she was personally pardoned by the Jedi Council. Plo Koon offered Tano their most humble apologies for accusing her of treachery. Ki-Adi-Mundi, Saesee Tiin, and Mace Windu all observed Tano's ordeal as a "great trial" in her training, which they stated had made her a greater Jedi^[8] than she would've been otherwise. They invited her to rejoin the Jedi Order,^[2] but after everything she went through and feeling betrayed by her Jedi superiors, Tano refused and left,^[8] to everyone's shock. Skywalker followed her and begged her to reconsider, noting that the idea of leaving the Order was something he himself struggled with. Tano replied that she knew, but still chose to walk away, stating that she had to follow her own path.^[2]