Monday, June 27, 2005

Habeas Corpus

Habeas Corpus. A writ by which a man may be taken out of jail when confined for the wrong crime.

2005 Update: A constitutional guarantee that all imprisoned persons have access to an open court in which to question their detainments provided they ask in Latin.

Suggested Reading: Federal Habeas Corpus: cases and materials, by Andrea Lyon, Emily Hughes, Mary Prosser; Carolina Academic Press, 2005.

13 comments:

Sar said...

Someone get Latin For Dummies down to Gitmo, stat.

Doug The Una said...

That's funny, Sar. When I first wrote my definition it ended "provided they speak Latin and not Arabic." I took it out because I wanted to see how long it would be for the idea turned up in my comments section. Not long, I see.

M said...

Tee Hee! :) This one's funny.

Sar said...

I passed! I'm feeling pretty darn smart right about now.

Unknown said...

As I read the definition I was pondering the origins of language and trying to determine how closely linked Arabic and Latin might be...oh well...I was beat to the punch...and being that I never seem to be able to come up with the true zingers I will simply say...hehehehehe

Tom & Icy said...

When the dog catcher gets us, so we have to bark in Latin?

GABRIEL C. ZOLMAN said...

Habeas Corpus, n. Thr right of the accused to add tightrope acts to their media circus.

)+(

Sreekesh Menon said...

its not abt what you ask for but abt how you ask for it!

Doug The Una said...

Thanks, Manjusha. Nice to see you drop back by.

Sar, it's no less than I'd expect from such an august presence.

Spiritdancer, someday I'd like you to give me lessons on how to simply say hehehehe. I look forward to your zingers, too.

Icy, only to claim Habeas Corpus. If you want the waterboard, any language is fine.

Gabriel, that's funny.

Sreekesh, it seems to be about who's asking, but you may be right.

Unknown said...

hee. mea culpa of loving this

Doug The Una said...

Ecce homo, Karma, ecce homo.

TLP said...

So, in Ambrose's day, a woman could just ask in English maybe? Now you expect even women to ask in Latin. Well, Latin is just ugly. I'm not doin' it. *pretending that I could*

Doug The Una said...

Just guessing here, but I think Bierce would have responded that women are always wardens so habeas corpus doesn't apply. Or that women's crimes were in men's nature. Or, maybe, "yeah."