Lowering the Bench

“Da Vinci Code” Judge Encodes Message in Ruling

About a month ago, British High Court Justice Peter Smith ruled that Dan Brown had not plagiarized an earlier work ("Holy Blood, Holy Grail") when writing his best-seller (you may have heard of it), "The Da Vinci Code."  It turns…


Judge in Philippines Discriminated Against for Being Psychic

The persecution of the psychically gifted continues.  Judge Florentino Floro, who until recently presided over a jurisdiction in suburban Manila, was removed from the bench on "administrative grounds" because of prejudice against those who have the ability to see the…


Judge Apologizes for Pre-Sentencing Super Bowl Cheer

Judge Beverly Grant of Pierce County, Washington, is a big Seahawks fan judging by her call for a "Go Seahawks!" cheer by everyone in the courtroom as she took the bench last Friday.   When the first response was fairly tepid,…


Latest Example of “Law Clerk Bingo”

Whoever wrote the concurring and dissenting opinion for Ninth Circuit Judge Fernandez in Southern Union Co. v. Southwest Gas Corp. has scored many points in the game of who can get the most ridiculous words into a judicial opinion. The case…