Alice finds herself in a grand courtroom where the King and Queen of Hearts are presiding over a trial. The Jack of Hearts stands accused of stealing the Queen’s tarts, which are displayed on a platter in the center of the room, making Alice quite hungry as she looks at them.
The courtroom is filled with various creatures, including the White Rabbit acting as a herald and a jury composed of animals and birds scribbling notes on slates. Curious about their actions, Alice learns from the Gryphon that the jurors are writing down their names for fear they might forget them during the trial.
The trial begins with the White Rabbit reading the accusation in the form of a nursery rhyme:
“The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts,
All on a summer day:
The Jack of Hearts, he stole those tarts,
And took them quite away!”
The first witness called is the Mad Hatter, who enters nervously, still holding his teacup and a piece of bread and butter. He gives a confusing and nonsensical testimony, which frustrates the King and Queen. The Hatter becomes increasingly anxious under their scrutiny, especially when the Queen threatens execution.
As the Hatter struggles, Alice notices that she is growing larger again, causing discomfort to those around her, including the Dormouse, who moves away grumpily. The Queen orders the Hatter to be taken away, and he hastily exits the courtroom.
The next witness is the Duchess’s Cook, who brings chaos with her pepper-filled presence, causing everyone to sneeze. She refuses to cooperate, and amidst the confusion, the Cook disappears, and the Dormouse is expelled from the court.
Frustrated, the King decides to proceed and asks the White Rabbit to call the next witness. To Alice’s surprise and alarm, the White Rabbit announces that the next witness is none other than Alice herself. The chapter concludes with Alice being called to the stand, leaving her uncertain about what will happen next.