Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Siskiyou County v. State Personnel Board (Cal. Ct. App. - Oct. 7, 2010)

Rarely do you see a word used for the first time ever in the Court of Appeal.  Still rarer do you see a word used for the first time ever in any published or unpublished, state or federal appellate opinion.

But it happens here.

The Word:  "Phuck."  As in:  "What the phuck?"

Page Three, Line 3.

Admittedly, it's a quote.  Still.  It couldn't help but bring a smile to my face.  As well as remind me of the scene in "Superbad" in which the officers tell "McLovin":  "A lot of people have weird names lately . . . We arrested a man-lady who was legally named 'Phuck'.  I think it was Vietnamese, with a 'Ph', but still pretty shocking to see on a license."  (Scene here.)  Classic.  (Oh, yeah.  And if you want to know how many times that particular movie uses that obscenity, check this out.  Short answer:  Lots.  Stunningly lots.)

But Justice Scotland nonetheless remains the first person in the history of Anglo-American jurisprudence to use the word "Phuck" in an appellate opinion.  Congratulations, I guess, are in order.  Or at least recognition.