Law Humor

By Judge Jerry Buchmeyer

From John Wright of Grand Prairie, this voir dire tale from one of his first trials, in the late 1950s, in which John's client represented the plaintiff in a justice of the peace court in Grand Prairie. John's client told him to "move as quickly as possible because he had a plane to catch" - so John just told the judge that the first six panel members looked fine and he "would take them as jurors." The defendant's attorney was suspicious, so he began a "seemingly endless voir dire" until:

Q. Mr. Jones, do you know Mr. Wright, the other lawyers here?

A. No.

Q. Well, do you know Mr. Wright's client, [the plaintiff]?

A. No.

Q. Do you know my client from Garland, Mr. Sawyer, who operates a lawn mower repair service there?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Well, I'm sure you know him to be an upstanding member of his community, don't you?

A. No, I know him to be a d _ _ _ crook! I took my lawn mower down there to him and he charged me $37.50 and the thing never has run a lick.

The Defendant (leaping to his feet): Well, I told you the d _ _ _ thing was worn out when you brought it in.

The Court: (Rap) (Rap) Let's move along, counsel.

Full post as published by Say What! on June 10, 2008 (boomark / email).