The trial of Ahsoka Tano was perhaps one of the most significant and heartbreaking events during the Clone Wars. The former Padawan was set up and accused of the Jedi Temple hangar bombing, and was put on trial by the Jedi Council.
As a result, Ahsoka was found guilty of using explosive nano-droids and expelled from the Jedi Order and her duty as a Commander.
How come she was wrongfully proven guilty by people who essentially raised her?
It turns out that the Jedi Council was not in complete agreement. At least some Masters had the decency to question Ahsoka’s “crime.”
Let’s get to the bottom of the trial and see who supported the former Padawan.
Contents
Who Believed that Ahsoka Was Innocent?
After the bombings, the Jedi gathered to discuss Ahsoka’s future. Admiral Wilhuff Tarkin, the representative of the Republic, demanded to expel Ahsoka from the Jedi Order and allow her to be judged by the Republic Military tribunal. Tarkin argued that the Jedi Council was too “biased” to put her on the trial themselves.
Ten Jedi Masters were present: Coleman Kcaj, Eeth Koth, Kit Fisto, Shaak Ti, Saesee Tiin, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Grand Master Yoda, Mace Windu, and Plo Koon.
However, only six made their point relatively clear.
| Found Ahsoka Innocent | Found Ahsoka Guilty | Remained Neutral |
|---|---|---|
| Obi-Wan Kenobi “We need to stand together with Ahsoka.” | Ki-Adi-Mundi “There is evidence she was the mastermind behind the attack on the temple.” | Yoda “And in our decision, may the Force guide us.” |
| Plo Koon “You have our most humble apologies, little ‘Soka.” | Saesee Tiin “She was found in possession of nano-droid explosives. This alone is enough to convict her.” | |
| Mace Windu “I understand your sentiment, Obi-Wan, but, if the Council does as you suggest, it could be seen as an act of opposition to the Senate. I’m afraid we have little choice.” |
Plo Koon
Master Plo Koon shares a strong bond with “Little ‘Soka,” as he calls her. He was actually the one to find the future Jedi and bring her to the Jedi order.
They do have a very familiar father and daughter relationship, may we add.
Their unbreakable bond was his primary motivation to support Ahsoka. Master Plo knew that the small child he found could never become a murderer.
Interestingly enough, when Ahsoka’s charges were cleared, Master Plo and Anakin Skywalker were the only ones who actually apologised.
The other Jedi Masters were quick to use the Force as an excuse for their doubts!
Obi-Wan Kenobi
It is challenging to understand Obi-Wan Kenobi’s perception of this trial. From the very start, he pressed the Jedi Council to stand with Ahsoka.
Obi-Wan didn’t find Ahsoka guilty. That much is evident since he didn’t want to allow the Senate to dictate Ahsoka’s fate.
However, he didn’t speak much during the episode. His role was mostly reduced to looking guilty and thoughtful. It is only by knowing his character that we can assume he would continue to stand by Ahsoka no matter what.
At least, we could hope he would.
It is also true that he couldn’t persuade every single member of the Jedi Council.
That said, we can’t help but think that he could have done so much more!
Saesee Tiin and Ki-Adi-Mundi
Both Saesee Tiin and Ki-Adi-Mundi had similar thoughts, and they were amongst a few who openly accepted that Ahsoka was indeed guilty.
At least others were worried about the will of the Force or possible issues with the Senate!
These two brought up that Ahsoka was found with nano-droid explosives that blew up the hangar.
Funny how people who are guided by the Force use questionable evidence to decide fates!
Mace Windu
Mace Windu was primarily driven by politics, at least in this episode. Whilst other Masters relied on the will of Force and evidence, he was concerned with the Senate.
As the Jedi Order made a vow to serve the Republic, going against the Senate could have been treason. As much as we don’t like defending Mace, he had a point.
If Ahsoka was guilty, the Jedi Order would have suffered from a lot more than a bombing.
Yoda
Master Yoda and his opinion remain a mystery. He never once admitted whether he was for or against expelling Ahsoka. He only wanted to follow the Force.
Not the best decision since the Force was clouded by the Dark Side!
However, we choose to believe that Master Yoda was somewhere in between being neutral and believing in Ahsoka’s innocence.
Here’s another theory. Master Yoda warned Anakin to let go of his attachments. He also assigned Ahsoka to Anakin to teach him this Jedi lesson. Even though we would not like to believe that Yoda knew of Ahsoka’s fate all along, there is a slight possibility.
After all, Force visions and the ability to predict the future are technically canon.
“Yoda knows Anakin still carries many fears and cannot let go of his tragic past. He hopes that by teaching the Padawan Ahsoka Tano the young Jedi will learn that he does not need to be so protective of those who he loves.”
–Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know
Anakin Skywalker (Jedi Knight, but never a Jedi Master)
Anakin Skywalker might be guilty of many crimes. However, he never once lost faith in his Padawan. He was her greatest defender.
To prove that his Padawan wasn’t guilty, he set off on a quest to find Asajj Ventress. The former Dark-sider confirmed that her lightsabers were stolen, and she wasn’t the one behind the attacks.
Precisely due to new evidence, Anakin was able to find the person who set up Ahsoka.
Barriss Offee, Ahsoka’s friend and Luminara Unduli‘s Padawan was the one to betray the Jedi!
At the end of the day, Anakin Skywalker was one of the only people who did not only believe in Ahsoka, but did something to save her from the mistrial.
That was why it hurt even more, to see Ahsoka leave…
What if Ahsoka Was Found Guilty?
Perhaps in another universe, Ahsoka was actually the one to be the traitor, or Barriss was never discovered. What would have been her faith in that universe?
First and foremost, Ahsoka would definitely lose her privileges as the Jedi and the Commander in the Republican Army.
As for other consequences, we see two scenarios.
Ahsoka was likely to be executed for the bombing. She “betrayed” the Republic and caused much harm. Naturally, the only verdict for her was either execution or a life sentence. We lean towards the execution, of course, knowing the harshness of Republican laws.
“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 (Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Season 5, Episode 20)
However, we also saw that there were other Jedi present during the trial.
We would bet hundreds of credits and claim that Anakin would not stand still. The heady Knight would draw his lightsaber in less than a second and rescue Ahsoka. Quite possibly, even Obi-Wan and Plo Koon would intervene even if it would be against their better judgment.
Did Palpatine Frame Ahsoka?
Barriss and her thoughts were definitely caused by the overall trauma she experienced. The young Padawan saw thousands of deaths of clones and Jedi alike. Someone who once believed that the Jedi were peacekeepers was brought to the reality of war. Rather harshly.
However, there are several points that prove Palpatine‘s involvement in this evil plan.
Naturally, he wanted Anakin to fall. The best way to do so was by destroying people that he loved. After all, the inability to let go of his attachment was his greatest weakness. Getting rid of Ahsoka would take Anakin closer to the Dark side.
Besides, Barriss’ speech about evil Jedi did sound awfully familiar.
“I did it, because I’ve come to realise what many of people in the Republic have come to realise, that the Jedi are the ones responsible for this war, that we’ve so lost our way that we have become villains in this conflict, that we are the ones that should be put on trial. All of us! And my attack on the Temple was an attack on what the Jedi have become, an army fighting for the dark side, fallen from the light that we once held so dear. This Republic is failing! It’s only a matter of time.”
-Barriss Offee (Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Season 5, Episode 20)
We already heard a very similar argument from none other than Anakin Skywalker himself.
What else do we know about Anakin Skywalker? He was brainwashed by the Sith Lord and driven to this conclusion by Palpatine.
In some way, Anakin and Barriss were right. The Jedi lost their way. Funny how similar they have acted upon this discovery.
It is also suspicious how quickly Palpatine and the Senate found Ahsoka guilty…
Nevertheless, there is no concrete evidence to prove that Palpatine had anything to do with the attacks. Yes, it was definitely in his interest, and Barriss sounded suspiciously familiar.
Even though it is a likely conclusion, the show never confirmed it!
Conclusion
Witnessing Ahsoka’s story, it becomes more evident why Anakin fell and Ahsoka left. The Jedi speak of the living Force and the need to protect all beings.
However, when it came to their own, suddenly, the majority of the Council members were quick to hide behind excuses.
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Plo Koon were the only ones to support Ahsoka in the face of the Council. On the other hand, Mace Windu, Saesee Tiin, and Ki-Adi-Mundi found Ahsoka guilty and didn’t even apologise properly, whilst Yoda was unreadable, as always.
Sadly, Anakin was the only one who protected his Padawan. Truly protected.
The Jedi Order failed not only Ahsoka Tano but their core principles to protect those in need. By following the Republic and using Force as an excuse, they have forgotten their ways.Suddenly, Anakin and Barriss had some truths in their words.
The Jedi Council was lucky that Ahsoka did indeed become a better person, if not a Jedi!
If you’d like to find out more about Ahsoka, you can check out our other articles here:
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