: "I know there was a big trend of judges being silly so law blogs would find them witty. Personally I think most judges and lawyers can't tell good jokes and any joke in an opinion is at the expense of someone. Opinions don't have to be dour, but they shouldn't make like of the parties."

@robjackel.bsky.social

I know there was a big trend of judges being silly so law blogs would find them witty. Personally I think most judges and lawyers can't tell good jokes and any joke in an opinion is at the expense of someone. Opinions don't have to be dour, but they shouldn't make like of the parties.

Jul 02, 2024 at 12:40 UTC

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@robjackel.bsky.social
[ View ] Jul 02, 2024 at 12:40 UTC

My thoughts on this changed when I read a particularly obnoxious opinion making allusions to both the Odyssey and Joyce's Ulysses in a case involving a woman struggling without a lawyer to reclaim custody of her child from the state.

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Upbeat Former Prof @upbeatprof.bsky.social
[ View ] Jul 02, 2024 at 12:44 UTC

absolutely true. i should have thought more before posting. (i still hold the general view that too often affecting solemnity turns to pomposity, which then devolves; but your point, that the priority is respect for litigants, takes, uh... precedence, so sorry)

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