silly judges

[cellio]

Some judges on the state supreme court are upset because one of their colleagues wrote an opinion in verse. They object that it's unprofessional, etc.

I have very different objection: judges who write opinions in verse shouldn't write bad verse! Check this out:

A groom must expect matrimonial pandemonium
when his spouse finds he's given her a cubic zirconium
instead of a diamond in her engagement band,
the one he said was worth twenty-one grand.

"Our deceiver would claim that when his bride relied
on his claim of value, she was not justified
for she should have appraised it; and surely she could have
but the question is whether a bride-to-be would have.
-- Justice Michael J. Eakin

Update: I think writing in verse is cool in the abstract; I just twitched at this particular instance.

Comments

[fiannaharpar.livejournal.com]

No, this statement - "No matter addressed by this court is frivolous." is the horribly unprofessional commentary.

I think that in a case where deciding whether or not a fake diamond should nullify a pre-nup is frivolous and that this verse was just priceless.

More creativity in law! One of my favourite amature poets is a lawyer, so i'm also biased.

[cellio]

To clarify: I think writing an opinion in verse is just fine. Cool, even. But it should scan. :-)