A modern day Denning?
A judge in the United States has taken an unorthodox approach to court rulings by opening with a quote from fantasy television series Game of Thrones.
Robin S. Rosenbaum, a circuit judge from Florida, quoted a line from one of the show’s characters, Tyrion Lannister (pictured top), in a 26-page ruling concerning freedom of speech.
The case in question involved an ex-police officer from the city of Doral, Florida, who claimed he was forced out of the profession in 2009 after expressing support for a political candidate opposed to the city’s mayor. Rosenbaum, along with two other judges, eventually concluded that the former officer was unlawfully pressured to leave his job.
But not before he had some Game of Thrones fun. Handed down yesterday, the ruling opens:
A wise man once said a true history of the world is a history of great conversations in elegant rooms.
Rosenbaum, commenting on this quote, continued:
Whether or not that may be accurate, a true history of the United States would be incomplete without a history of great political conversations, wherever they might have occurred. And great political conversations could not exist in the absence of the First Amendment.
To avoid any confusion, the judge helpfully added an explainer footnote at the bottom of the second page.
For those unfamiliar with the murder-filled and incestuous world of Game of Thrones (you’re really missing out), Lannister is a dwarf who uses his wit and intellect to overcome the prejudice he faces.
The seventh season of the hit show aired in the US on Sunday, attracting more than 16 million viewers. Was it this that inspired Rosenbaum’s unique opening line?
Read the ruling in full below:
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