Should Courts be ‘Quippy’?

Author: Jeannine L. Bolhouse
Date: 07/13/2009

There is certainly no shortage of well known quotes involving the law. Written opinions from the courts themselves are often an entertaining source. One such quote that is rather humorous is found in a recent state supreme court case where a Justice begins his dissenting opinion as follows:
A groom must expect
matrimonial pandemonium,
When his spouse finds he’s
given her cubic zirconium.
This case addressed whether a wife fairly relied on her husband’s claim that anengagement ring was worth $21,000 when, in fact, the stone was not a diamond. After the dissent was published there was much controversy in the media and between Justices as to whether including the poem in the court’s opinion was appropriate. The Chief Justice expressed his opinion stating, “an opinion that expresses itself in rhyme reflects poorly on the Supreme Court.”
There are two lessons to be learned here. First, never purchase a cubic zirconium engagement ring with the hope that your wife will not find out. Second, Supreme Court opinions may not be the appropriate venue for a Justice to express him or herself in rhyme. However, this dissenting opinion will not soon be forgotten.