To counter the hate-crime charges, defense lawyers have tried to focus instead on the personal grudges and family disputes that affected the choice of victims.

Between the symbol-laden appearance of many in the courtroom and statements that, coming from the reticent Amish, can only be called startling, the trial has presented a spectacle. Mr. Mullet’s wife, Martha, sat impassively as she heard her daughter-in-law describe being repeatedly forced into sex with Mr. Mullet, only to have him call her a whore when she finally refused. Two of Mr. Mullet’s brothers and two of his sisters in the gallery — in caps, not scarves — barely concealed their disgust as defense lawyers described his odd practices as true Amish.

Most of the witnesses speak Pennsylvania Dutch at home, and some apologized as they groped for the right English word.

Conservative Amish end schooling at the eighth grade and do not watch television. The girls are taught to cook, sew, raise children and obey their husbands. The Bergholz women in the courtroom, who have led particularly isolated lives, watched raptly as two female prosecutors managed the government’s case and as a federal marshal with pink handcuffs on her belt stood by. (All the court-appointed defense lawyers are men.)

Because it was so central to Mr. Mullet’s disputes, the jurors got a quick education in the Amish tradition of shunning, or excommunicating of individuals who defiantly stray from the path. “It’s a last resort” and “a heartbreaking thing to do,” testified Andy Hershberger, who was attacked along with his 76-year-old father, Raymond, in October by some of Samuel Mullet’s sons, wielding razor-sharp horse shears for clipping horse manes.

Shunnings should occur only after months of discussion and a near-unanimous vote of the congregation, Mr. Hershberger said. Normally, other Amish groups respect the decision and tell the offender he must make amends with his original church.

Attackers told the elder Mr. Hershberger that he became a target because he had joined other Amish leaders in rejecting Mr. Mullet’s use of shunning decrees against people who quit his settlement.