15 September 2009
Tuesday Transcript: Know Your Teabag
Readers are no doubt aware of the “teabagging” incident that led to the collapse of Australia’s military justice system. My friend suggested law students might relish the chance to cite something saucy in an exam.
It’s not just students who are tempted to spice up their submissions; even senior lawyers are fond of an occasional ribald reference. But please: if you’re going to crack wise, make sure you’re hip to the lingo.
In arguing a High Court appeal involving a gutless carpark bashing, counsel learned the hard way:
MR REYNOLDS: [...] As I said a moment ago, it was a very simple precaution to take and Mr Smith had earlier threatened to go back and, if I may use the colloquialism, “‘tea bag’, Mr Karimi”. I gather your Honours know what that means from – - -
FRENCH CJ: No, it is not “tea-bagging”, actually, it is something else. There is a distinction, but you need not worry about it.
MR REYNOLDS: Perhaps we will not go there, your Honour, but at any rate he had threatened to go back and treat him in an aggressive way.
I would be amazed and perhaps a little bit impressed if Smith could knock someone unconscious with his testicles, but the reality is that he’s your garden-variety thug. There is a distinction, as the Chief Justice noted, between a teabag and a king-hit.
Related posts:
- Tuesday Transcript: Reality-based decision-making
- Tuesday Transcript: Pipe Down
- Tuesday Transcript: Nice Catch
- Tuesday Transcript: High Court TV reviews
- Tuesday Transcript: Tell us what you really think
