Long Burn

The Supremes

A recent analysis of the transcripts of the Supreme Court by Prof. Jay Wexler of Boston University has revealed that Justice Antonin Scalia is 19 times funnier than Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Here is an example of Supreme humor from the transcripts:

"Recently I lost my luggage," Justice Kennedy said. "I had to go to the lost and found at the airline, and the lady said has my plane landed yet."

"[Laughter.]"

This one got a laugh for Chief Justice Roberts, during an argument about assisted suicide:

"The relationship between the states and the federal government has changed a little since Gibbons v. Ogden." (A landmark decision in 1824 about national regulation of the economy.)

Professor Wexler said he had decided not to pursue laughter-per-question research.

"That's not going to happen," he said. "Unless I get a grant."

posted by Matt_J @ 1:39 PM