"He is entitled to his freedom."
-Petition to Sue for Freedom, 6 April 1846
-Petition to Sue for Freedom, 6 April 1846
Dred Scott and his family were granted a new trial that did not occur until January 1850. This time, Scott produced a witness and the jury, following Missouri precedent, ruled that Scott and his family were officially free. But, unwilling to lose four slaves, Emerson appealed to the Supreme Court. So, in 1852, the Missouri Supreme Court shockingly reversed the trial court's decision stating that the Scotts were still legally slaves and should've sued for freedom while they were in a free state. This overturned 28 years of Missouri state precedent.