The expulsion of the well-known Hungarian classical poet, Csokonai, has been studied and reviewed several times. According to the widely-accepted interpretation, the gifted young poet was unjustly dismissed after a show trial, while his talent was not recognised. But can we challenge the whole conception?This paper aims to present the facts and events merely from the point of view of jurisdiction, applying the results, methods, and aspects of modern criminal law, hoping that we can see a more varied new picture of the trial. Hopefully, it can also contribute to the literary discourse about a traditionally accepted figure of the Hungarian literary canon.