Defending the Truth

A British judge admitted on Wednesday he was struggling to cope with basic terms like "Web site" in the trial of three men accused of inciting terrorism via the Internet. Judge Peter Openshaw broke into the questioning of a witness about a Web forum used by alleged Islamist radicals. "The trouble is I don't understand the language. I don't really understand what a Web site is".

He told a London court during the trial of three men charged under anti-terrorism laws. Prosecutor Mark Ellison briefly set aside his questioning to explain the terms "Web site" and "forum." An exchange followed in which the 59-year-old judge acknowledged: "I haven't quite grasped the concepts.

Perhaps he should adjourn court for a day or so and go hang with the local high school geek squad. (What is it they call high schools in England?) I am sure that a bunch of 15, 16, & 17 year-old nerds could bring him up to speed fast!

LOL, Have the teenagers called as "Expert Witnesses"

They're secondry schools, although some people say high school.

I'm surprised this hasn't come up before. It's like two different worlds for some people.

Thanks. We use secondary school in the states too, although not as much. I was thinking there was another term.

Judges in the UK are soooo out of touch sometimes.

I'm reminded of a sketch on a comedy programme a few years back that went something like this:

Prosecuting counsel: "the defendant was seen stealing a video recorder..."

Judge (interrupting): "a video recorder? What is that?"

Judge's assistant explains to him it's a machine for recording television images.

Judge: "Good Lord - amazing what they can do nowadays"

Prosecutor: "and a CD player..."

Judge: "a CD player? What is that, pray?"

It's explained to him that it's a device for playing back music pre-recorded onto a small disc

Judge: "Good Lord - amazing what inventions they come up with"

Prosecutor: "and one 'Michelle Busty Model 6 Deluxe' sex doll"

Judge's assistant: "That, M'lud, is an inflatable latex life-size doll, though what the Model 6 Deluxe part means, I don't know"

Judge: "Oh, the Model 6 Deluxe is the one with realistic flesh-like latex and flesh tones, and real hair"

Sounds about the same as our courts...