The court hearing at the end of The Outsiders is important because it resolves the events of the fight and acts legally to absolve Ponyboy. The purpose of the hearing, obviously, was to determine if Ponyboy is guilty of a crime and if he and his brothers can remain together.
Scientists had begun to debate privately whether or not Pluto is a plant, but this was the first time the concept was presented in a museum for all to see
