Civil Procedure & Federal Courts Blog

No Cameras In the Courtroom? Try Puppets Instead!

The Wall Street Journal reports that a news station, WOIO 19 is covering one of Ohio's biggest corruption trials using puppets in a show called The Puppet's Court.  Because cameras are not allowed in the courtroom, reporter Kirk Maynard reenacts bits of testimony and trial with scenes like this: 

 

According to the WSJ, 

The result is a cross between "The Sopranos" and "The Muppet Show" that has elicited some complaints from viewers and hand-wringing from journalism professors. But since the trial began in January, "The Puppet's Court" has led a ratings surge for the station's late news show and won praise from some politicians.

I, personally, think it is one of the funniest things I've ever seen, and a genuinely creative response to some of the absurdities of American courts.  Perhaps next year I'll allow my students to perform a puppet show in lieu of the final exam.

RJE

 

 

The Colbert Report on Wal-Mart v. Dukes

Or maybe that should be Wal-Mart v. Dukes on The Colbert Report. Anyway, video available here.

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NYT: "Lawyers Use Humor to Plead Case"

No, this New York Times story is not about a new strategy for complying with federal pleading standards. It's about unconventional law firm ads, including the following (links to YouTube):

"Machete"

"Power"

--A

(Hat Tip: Roger Baron)

SCOTUS: No cameras in the Prop 8 trial courtroom

The Supreme Court has blocked cameras in the San Francisco federal courtroom where the challenge to California's Proposition 8 is proceeding to trial.  SCOTUSblog has full coverage.

RJE