Of bakers and barristers
Day 874, 17:53
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Published in Canada 
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by
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by olivermellors
Recently heard in small claims court:
“ Plaintiff: Then my boss hit me on the head, causing me great injury and pain, for which I now seek damages.
Judge: What did he hit you with?
Plaintiff: A loaf of bread. But it was really stale. And I haven’t been able to work since.
Judge: What did you do before this assault?
Plaintiff: I was a baker.
Judge: Why did you become a baker?
Plaintiff: That’s what my boss asked just before he hit me on the head.”
In stories, as in life, things often come full circle. Often we don’t see it because we labour under preconceptions that control our perceptions and judgements. A famous story from Olde England describes this well.
In those days, Judges would go to county towns to hold trials. There might be six or eight civil actions for trial: a contract case or two, a contested will, a real estate dispute. Each of these little county towns would have a few solicitors: lawyers who did all legal work except appear in court. Only barristers could appear and argue in court and, as they lived in London, would be hired to come north for the court sessions. Often, two barristers would try all the cases, appearing on opposing sides in each. Cases were often tried before a jury which would, likewise hear all of the cases, one after the other, presided over by the same judge and argued by the same councel.
The Court having completed all seven of the cases on its docket in a span of twelve days, the Judge stopped by a local restaurant for lunch before taking the train home. He spied the jury foreman at a nearby table and, giving in to common curiosity, ambled over to ask him a question.
“I couldn’t help noticing the jury decided every case in favour of lawyer A’s clients, and against lawyer B’s. “
“Oh yes M’Lord, it was a funny thing. Lawyer B was so much better a lawyer than that other fellow, but lawyer A’s clients always had the better cases. We were wondering why that was. “
The Judge returned to London, smiling and confident that, at least in the northern counties, facts matter more than show.
If you are a new player, or an old hand, for whom facts matter, the Court may be in need of volonteers to act as defense councel from time to time. Rumour has it that the government is also seeking applicants to do its court-room work. If interested, you can follow the links provided in my previous article.
We are now adjourned for the length of a cigarette… or two.
“ Plaintiff: Then my boss hit me on the head, causing me great injury and pain, for which I now seek damages.
Judge: What did he hit you with?
Plaintiff: A loaf of bread. But it was really stale. And I haven’t been able to work since.
Judge: What did you do before this assault?
Plaintiff: I was a baker.
Judge: Why did you become a baker?
Plaintiff: That’s what my boss asked just before he hit me on the head.”
In stories, as in life, things often come full circle. Often we don’t see it because we labour under preconceptions that control our perceptions and judgements. A famous story from Olde England describes this well.
In those days, Judges would go to county towns to hold trials. There might be six or eight civil actions for trial: a contract case or two, a contested will, a real estate dispute. Each of these little county towns would have a few solicitors: lawyers who did all legal work except appear in court. Only barristers could appear and argue in court and, as they lived in London, would be hired to come north for the court sessions. Often, two barristers would try all the cases, appearing on opposing sides in each. Cases were often tried before a jury which would, likewise hear all of the cases, one after the other, presided over by the same judge and argued by the same councel.
The Court having completed all seven of the cases on its docket in a span of twelve days, the Judge stopped by a local restaurant for lunch before taking the train home. He spied the jury foreman at a nearby table and, giving in to common curiosity, ambled over to ask him a question.
“I couldn’t help noticing the jury decided every case in favour of lawyer A’s clients, and against lawyer B’s. “
“Oh yes M’Lord, it was a funny thing. Lawyer B was so much better a lawyer than that other fellow, but lawyer A’s clients always had the better cases. We were wondering why that was. “
The Judge returned to London, smiling and confident that, at least in the northern counties, facts matter more than show.
If you are a new player, or an old hand, for whom facts matter, the Court may be in need of volonteers to act as defense councel from time to time. Rumour has it that the government is also seeking applicants to do its court-room work. If interested, you can follow the links provided in my previous article.
We are now adjourned for the length of a cigarette… or two.
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