The Salem Witch Trials were characterized by a series of legal proceedings that determined the guilt or innocence of the accused individuals. The process began with the preliminary examinations, during which magistrates questioned the suspects to gather evidence. These examinations aimed to identify any physical evidence, such as witch's marks or devil's teats, as well as testimonies from witnesses or the afflicted girls. These examinations played a crucial role in deciding if a trial would proceed.

Once the examination deemed a case worthy of trial, the accused were brought before the Court of Oyer and Terminer. This court, consisting of a panel of judges, listened to both the prosecution and defense arguments, evaluated the evidence, and made a final judgment. It is worth noting that the accused faced an uphill battle, as the burden of proof was on them to prove their innocence.

One of the most controversial aspects of the trials was the use of spectral evidence, which allowed the testimonies of the afflicted girls to be admitted as evidence. These girls claimed to see the spirits of the accused tormenting them, and their testimonies held significant weight in court. This reliance on spectral evidence was highly criticized, as it lacked concrete proof and opened the door for manipulation and false accusations. In addition to spectral evidence, a variety of other methods, such as the touch test and the swimming test, were used to determine guilt. These methods were based on superstitious beliefs rather than legal principles, leading to a flawed and biased trial system.

Despite the flaws in the legal proceedings, the trials continued for several months, resulting in numerous convictions and executions. It wasn't until key figures involved in the trials, such as Governor William Phips, questioned the legitimacy of spectral evidence that public opinion began to shift. In October 1692, the Court of Oyer and Terminer was dissolved, and a new court was established with stricter standards of evidence. This led to a decline in convictions and signaled the beginning of the end for the Salem Witch Trials.