‘Objection, Your Honour!?

The professional function of the advocate is, essentially, one of supreme, even sublime, indifference to much of what happens in real life. He must advance one point of view, irrespective of its inadequacies. He must belittle other interests, whatever their merits. Politely though the task is performed, many barristers spend much of their working day accusing respectable members of the community of being liars. It is not for counsel appearing in court to express equivocation, to recognise ambiguity or to doubt instructions. His client is right and his opponent is wrong. The wider consequences can be left to the judge or jury to consider.

Blurb from back cover of ‘Advocates?by David Pannick.

Move Over Svenson’s

Given that the wearing of horse-hair wigs in the Supreme Court of Singapore has been abolished for quite some time, it is ironical that the Law Society of Singapore has been approached for a long-term loan of a wig alleged to have belonged to Sir Roland Braddell. Strangely, the wig, complete with antique wig tin, inscribed with Sir Roland Braddell’s name, had found its way into the Law Society’s storeroom in the Supreme Court and was discovered when the storeroom was cleared in the mid-1980s. Since then it has been residing in the Law Society premises where it has been ever since.

Now the wig may well be on its way, on loan, to the newly refurbished Old Parliament for its constitutional history display and exhibition. But remember, you read about it here first!

Know Way Out

Well, it had to happen sooner or later. United States Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld has the dubious distinction of having won Plain English Campaign’s annual ‘Foot in the Mouth?award for this most baffling statement by a public figure:

Reports that say something hasn’t happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns ?the ones we don’t know we don’t know.

And in case you thought that cannot be beaten, Mr Rumsfeld did one better when he indicated early this month, in respect of the Iraqi insurgents, that ‘the foes are being rounded up, captured, killed, wounded and interrogated.?
Rich Car Poor Car

Equality before the law has taken a whole new meaning in Luton, UK, where luxury cars like BMWs and Mercedes are being snatched from the streets of Luton. What’s more, it is completely legal!

The people making off with the cars are not thieves but contractors working for Luton Council and they are towing away vehicles which do not have a current tax disc on the windscreen. At one time the only cars towed away in Luton were beat up old cars that people had dumped. Now the council has six inspectors searching the streets for untaxed vehicles, as well as unwanted cars that have been abandoned.

And there is worse to come ?for the owners of the cars, that is. Your untaxed vehicle will be put into a car pound. After 14 days it will be crushed or sold, depending on whether it is an old wreck or is worth many thousands of pounds.