R.I.P. Scout26
Justice is defending Donald Powell, one of two defendants accused in an attempted aggravated burglary, the Tennessean says. The prosecution motion sought to ban the word "government" because it makes the prosecutor "seem oppressive and to inflame the jury," according to the newspaper.Justice began his response by arguing that the proposed ban on the word “government” violates the First Amendment, and the state “offers precisely zero legal authority for its rather nitpicky position.”“Should this court disagree, and feel inclined to let the parties basically pick their own designations and ban words, then the defense has a few additional suggestions for amending the speech code,” Justice wrote. “First, the defendant no longer wants to be called ‘the Defendant.’ This rather archaic term of art, obviously has a fairly negative connotation. It unfairly demeans, and dehumanizes Mr. Donald Powell. The word ‘defendant’ should be banned. At trial, Mr. Powell hereby demands he be addressed only by his full name, preceded by the title ‘Mister.’ Alternatively, he may be called simply ‘the Citizen Accused.’ This latter title sounds more respectable than the criminal ‘Defendant.’ The designation ‘That innocent man’ would also be acceptable.”
For starting a new thread about a story that's already been discussed, you lose one internets.
