Star Trek: TNG episode
"The Measure of a Man"
Data sits in judgment as "The Measure of a Man".
Episode no.	35
Prod. code	135
Airdate	February 13, 1989
Writer(s)	Melinda M. Snodgrass
Director	Robert Scheerer
Guest star(s)	Brian Brophy, Clyde Kusatsu, Amanda McBroom
Year	2365
Stardate	42523.7
Episode chronology
Previous episode	"A Matter of Honor"
Next episode	"The Dauphin"

"The Measure of a Man" is a second season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation first broadcast in 1989. Image File history File links STMeasureMan. ... February 13 is the 44th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Screenwriters, scenarists or script writers, are authors who write the screenplays from which movies and television programs are made. ... Melinda M. Snodgrass is a writer who wrote many episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... A television director is usually responsible for directing the actors and other taped aspects of a television production. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... A year is the time between two recurrences of an event related to the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. ... Stardate is one of the dating conventions used in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... A Matter of Honor is a second season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation first broadcast on February 6, 1989. ... The Dauphin is a second season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation first broadcast on February 20, 1989. ... The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

While the USS Enterprise-D is docked at a new Starbase for routine maintenance, Commander Bruce Maddox arrives to claim Data for disassembly. Maddox was also on the commission that decades earlier determined Data's eligibility to enter Starfleet Academy; Maddox's only dissenting vote was cast on the grounds that Data, an android, was not a sentient being. The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), in the Star Trek fictional universe, is the Galaxy class starship It is the fifth Federation starship to bear the name Enterprise. ... A starbase is usually portrayed as a facility strategically positioned in space used to repair and re-supply starships. ... Bruce Maddox is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe. ... Data is a character in the Star Trek fictional universe. ... The official logo of Starfleet Academy, circa 2370. ... The android Data, portrayed by Brent Spiner, from the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation An android is a robot made to resemble a human, usually both in appearance and behaviour. ...

Data elects to resign from Starfleet so he cannot be disassembled; however, JAG officer Philippa Louvois is persuaded to issue a preliminary ruling that Data is the property of Starfleet because he is a machine, in the same way that the Enterprise computer is, so his 'resignation' would not stop Maddox's wishes. The JAG officer drafts Commander Riker to represent the prosecution, and Captain Picard serves as Data's defense counsel. Starfleet Command In the Star Trek fictional universe, Starfleet is the paramilitary defense, research, diplomacy, and exploration force of the United Federation of Planets (UFP) with – as of the late 24th century – hundreds of starships and starbases at its disposal. ... William Thomas Riker is a character in the Star Trek universe played by Jonathan Frakes, who appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) and all the movies focusing on the TNG characters. ... Jean-Luc Picard is a character in Star Trek: The Next Generation, the commanding officer (having the rank of Captain) of the USS Enterprise-D and the USS Enterprise-E. He was played by English actor Patrick Stewart in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) and resulting...

In the trial, Riker, who was ordered to do his best to prosecute Data or have the JAG Officer summarily rule against Data, presents an effective case of Data being property because he is merely a sophisticated machine. During recess, Picard is all but ready to concede until Guinan points out that a ruling against Data having rights is tantamount to sanctioning slavery. Emboldened, Picard presents his defence by arguing that Data fulfills most of Maddox's own criteria for the definition of sentience. Furthermore, he notes that creating a race of sentient beings who are legally considered property, ergo slaves, is a profound affront to the ideals and principles of the United Federation of Planets, subsequently adding that all beings are technically created, but that does not make them the property of their creators. Impressed by these arguments, the JAG officer rules that Data has the right to self-determination; he is a machine, but he is growing beyond the sum of his parts. Guinan is a character in the Star Trek universe played by Whoopi Goldberg. ... Slavery is the social and legal designation of specific persons as property, for the purpose of providing labor and services for the owner without the right of the slave to refuse, or gain compensation. ... Sentience is a capacity for basic consciousness—the ability to feel or perceive, not necessarily including the faculty of self-awareness. ... A principle(not principal) is something, usually a rule or norm, that is part of the basis for something else. ... In the Star Trek fictional universe, the United Federation of Planets (UFP) – widely referred to and known as merely the Federation – is an interstellar federal state of more than 150 member planets and thousands of colonies. ... Self-determination is a principle in international law that a people ought to be able to determine their own governmental forms and structure free from outside influence. ...

After the trial, Riker hides away from the celebration in shame for the role he played in the trial. Data comes to tell him that he is well aware that Riker was forced to prosecute and is grateful that Riker made that sacrifice to give him a fighting chance to earn his freedom, which cheers up Riker considerably.

Trivia

This episode marks the first appearance of the rare "Interim Admiral's Uniform" seen only in Season Two of the Next Generation series. The uniform had been created to replace the unpopular first season Admiral uniforms and rank insignia and introduced a new system of rank pips within "rank boxes". The rank boxes were worn vertically and would be replaced in the third season by horizontal boxes and the Admiral's uniform used for the rest of the Next Generation series. The insignia of Starfleet in the late 23rd century The insignia of Starfleet in the 24th century Starfleet ranks and insignia are hierarchical titles and badges of office which appear in the science fiction universe of Star Trek. ...

The seventh season Star Trek: Voyager episode "Author, Author" paralleled this story in regard to the Emergency Medical Hologram. Due to the lack of holographic rights in the United Federation of Planets as of 2377, the Doctor has his literary work published against his will. The Federation Arbitrator in this case ruled not on the Doctor's sentience, but on the Doctor's artistic work, which was protected under Federation law. The starship Voyager (NCC-74656), an Intrepid-class starship. ... The Mark I Emergency Medical Hologram from the USS Voyager In the Star Trek fictional universe, the Emergency Medical Hologram or EMH is a holographic program intended to support or replace medical personnel aboard a Starfleet vessel or installation in case of emergency. ... This article is about the photographic technique. ... In the Star Trek fictional universe, the United Federation of Planets (UFP) – widely referred to and known as merely the Federation – is an interstellar federal state of more than 150 member planets and thousands of colonies. ... The 24th century (Gregorian Calendar) comprises the years 2301-2400. ...

External link

• The Measure of a Man article at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek wiki