France far-right candidate compares justice minister to monkey

[Malthus]

'To prove my client's innocence might I bring the court's attention to Lex IV on the second of the Twelve Tables'

That's the spirit! 

Though in reality, most of the really ancient cites were given as examples of the historical progression of the law in some area. "As can be seen, until modern times the law on guardianship had remained consistent over many centuries on this point in the English Common Law, going back to the first mention in the Magna Carta ...". That sort of thing. 

[Malthus]

Here's an example from our Supreme Court, which would definitely be a contender:

41                              Long before the days of Lord Pratt C.J., the related idea of condemning a defendant to a multiple of what is required for compensation (in the present appeal, as stated, the punitive damages were roughly triple the award of compensatory damages) reached back to the Code of Hammurabi, Babylonian law, Hittite law (1400 B.C.), the Hindu Code of Manu (200 B.C.), ancient Greek codes, the Ptolemaic law in Egypt and the Hebrew Covenant Code of Mosaic law (see Exodus 22:1 "If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep").  Roman law also included provisions for multiple damages.  Admittedly, in these early systems, criminal law and civil law were not always clearly differentiated.  The United States Supreme Court in BMW, supra, referred at p. 581 to "65 different enactments [in English statutes] during the period between 1275 and 1753 [that] provided for double, treble, or quadruple damages".

http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/2002/2002scc18/2002scc18.html?searchUrlHash=AAAAAQAJaGFtbXVyYWJpAAAAAAE

[Barrister]

They are supposed to be law reporters, which come in huge matched sets. Our firm library has many of those, but stored on roller shelving.

These days, I assume sole pratitioners having them is a bit of an affectation; I imagine most would not bother, and just look up cases online.

Pretty much what I was told in my paralegal classes.  There might be a Black's Law Dictionary in there too, though.  Most attorneys in the US nowadays are going to just subscribe to LexusNexus or WestLaw's online archives instead of paying for new editions, and they just keep the ones they have for citing older cases.

Our firm has some law reporters that are pretty antique, dating back to the 19th century. Still occasionally referenced.

Just for shits and giggles, I went to check - the oldest reporter we have is the High Court of Admiralty & Ecclesiastical Courts reporter (Vol. 1), published in 1867. We have a reprint entitled the English Reports, printed in 1900, that collects much earlier cases - the earliest being Dominus Rex v. Viscount Purbeck, 1677 - about whether a Viscountship can be surrendered to the Crown. Not an issue that arises much these days. 

My own personal law library has a set of the All ERs going back to the 16-17th century.  I also have have a long since out of print original set of the Western Law Reporter, with the first volume printed in 1905.

[The Brain]

  Western Law is decided by Judge Colt and his jury of six in trials of triggernometry.

[Syt]

'To prove my client's innocence might I bring the court's attention to Lex IV on the second of the Twelve Tables'

That's the spirit! 

Though in reality, most of the really ancient cites were given as examples of the historical progression of the law in some area. "As can be seen, until modern times the law on guardianship had remained consistent over many centuries on this point in the English Common Law, going back to the first mention in the Magna Carta ...". That sort of thing.

What I love about English law is that "time immemorial" was originally defined as everything before 6 July 1189.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_immemorial

[Ed Anger]

Tony Benn can kiss my red white and blue ass.

[crazy canuck]

my red white and blue ass.

There is probably some form of medication you can take for that.

[Malthus]

my red white and blue ass.

There is probably some form of medication you can take for that.

I assumed it's a side effect of the medications he's already taking. 

[Razgovory]

Well, he did used to be called "monkey butt".

[The Brain]

Well, he did used to be called "monkey butt".

Wait. What? Ed is MB? Source?

[Capetan Mihali]

We use the various statute books pretty frequently in public defender offices.  But the relevant ones (family/children, driving, criminal, procedure/evidence, appeal) only take up a single shelf in each attorney's room. 

Even with computer-semiliterate older people at poorly funded offices, the reporters are hardly ever used.

I used a reporter for the first time! Looking up a 1906 criminal case (an Italian prosecuted for selling malt-extract from his pharmacy for "bibulous" purposes :yankee:) for language that would help in arguing that the Vermont constitution's "laws of the land" clause is broader/stronger due process protection than the federal.

[Ed Anger]

Well, he did used to be called "monkey butt".

Wait. What? Ed is MB? Source?

Wait.. What? This is an Outrage.

[Eddie Teach]

Well, he did used to be called "monkey butt".

Wait. What? Ed is MB? Source?

What good would it do, I'm sure Raz's handwriting is illegible.

[The Brain]

We use the various statute books pretty frequently in public defender offices.  But the relevant ones (family/children, driving, criminal, procedure/evidence, appeal) only take up a single shelf in each attorney's room. 

Even with computer-semiliterate older people at poorly funded offices, the reporters are hardly ever used.

I used a reporter for the first time! Looking up a 1906 criminal case (an Italian prosecuted for selling malt-extract from his pharmacy for "bibulous" purposes :yankee:) for language that would help in arguing that the Vermont constitution's "laws of the land" clause is broader/stronger due process protection than the federal.

When you murder one for the first time you'll be in Putin's league.