Sunday, 17 August 2014

9) The Final Guilty Verdict

It was a momentous day at court. The biggest trial was about to come to a close: the history of criminals and imprisoned people versus the history of judges and the prison system. A loophole in important documents and rules had led one cunning lawyer to discover that the act of imprisoning people for committing crimes was illegal in itself. It was a combination of obscure tenuous links that when put together create a compelling argument. The trial had taken the world under its grip. Every other trial was suspended until the conclusion of this verdict.

The cunning lawyer, slicked hair and pinned blue suit, stood respectfully for the judge in his black gown. It was odd that sat at the defence table over from him were three judges, out of their gowns, watching one of their colleagues give the final verdict. The judges looked nervously at one another. The judge slammed his gavel and took a deep breath. He turned to the jury. A woman of Latina origin stood up.

‘How do you find the history of judge and the prison system?’ he asked.

‘We find you, I mean them, guilty, your honour,’ she said, bowing her head apologetically.

The judge on his podium pressed his fingers into his eyes. His lip quivered.

‘Then I have no choice but to sentence every judge to life sentences in prison, despite the fact that such a ruling is now illegal. Let there never be another sentencing of any criminal.’

The judge shook his head as he slammed his gavel. A police officer came with a pair of handcuffs and gave him an inquisitive look. The judge nodded and put his wrists out in front of him. He was taken down with the other judges.


People left the courthouse, but the cunning lawyer sat in disbelief. He couldn’t belief he managed to get a guilty verdict. It was a magnificent achievement. And yet, without criminals or trials, he had no job. As the roars of mob justice rallied outside the court, the lawyer was left with a sense of deflation.

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