The Class Trial was a major event in Phoenix Wright's childhood that heavily impacted his goals for the future. At the time, Wright was put on trial by his own classmates, and experienced what is what like to be alone, with no one on his side.
What Happened
The Crime
Wright attended a small elementary school, where every student brought in an envelope with $38 at the beginning of the month to pay for their lunches for the month. One day, during P.E., one of the envelopes was stolen. Wright, who was coming down with a cold and skipped P.E. that day, was the only one without an alibi. As such, he was accused of the theft and put on "trial" the next day.
The "Trial"
Despite Wright's claims that he didn't do it, everyone else in the classroom continued to accuse him. Wright was so sad, he couldn't stop crying. Eventually, even the teacher thought he had done it, and ordered him to apologize. However, Miles Edgeworth objected on Wright's behalf. Edgeworth pointed out that everyone kept saying he did it, but no one had any evidence. And without proof, Wright couldn't be found guilty of the theft. Larry Butz, the class troublemaker, also stood up for Wright. He accused everyone of ganging up on Wright, and not thinking how he felt.
Ultimately, the teacher ended the trial, declaring Wright not guilty, and replaced the money.
The Aftermath
This event led to Wright, Edgeworth, and Butz becoming best friends. When Wright asked Edgeworth why he did that, Edgeworth explained that he wanted to be just like his father, who was a well-known defense attorney. However, after Edgeworth's father was murdered, Edgeworth transferred to another school.
However, the feeling Wright felt when he was totally alone, until someone stood up for him, made him vow to help anyone who found himself or herself in the same situation. This event was one of the reasons Wright would grow up to be a Defense Attorney.
The Resolution
Over fifteen years later, the truth finally came to light. After Edgeworth was found not guilty in his trial, Butz gave him a "congratulations present" of $38. Butz then admitted that he was the one who stole Edgeworth's lunch money, which Edgeworth had suspected all along because he couldn't have seen Butz standing up for Wright any other way.