David X Novak
  • Home
  • About
  • Poetry
  • Plays
  • Prose
  • Books
  • News
  • Contact

Taint by Association

7/27/2017

 
“ ‘I am, as so many Americans are, outraged that Merrick Garland does not sit on [the court] today,’ [Neal Katyal] said in his statement to the committee. ‘I have no doubt that if Merrick Garland had been confirmed and another vacancy had opened up, Judge Gorsuch would sail through close to 100-0. But that isn’t the world we are in. It is a tragedy of national proportions that Merrick Garland is not on the court.’” (The National Law Journal)
It was a lowdown, cryin’ shame
That Merrick Garland wasn’t seated,
Neal Katyal was heard to exclaim,
But even though his party cheated
To have usurper Gorsuch placed,
Neil Gorsuch should not be disgraced:

“Fair-minded and a decent man,
A first-rate intellect,” quoth Katyal,
“Well-honed to be custodian
Of law and legal virtues that y’all
Treasure so dear
—he is a treasure
To be preserved by any measure.”

The measure of that preservation:
Wholesale dishonor on the court,
Henceforward serving not “the nation,”
The individual’s rights cut short,
Becoming “Justice for a fee”— 
Perceived so inescapably.

A man of honor may be taxed
To turn down an egregious bounty— 
“The chance to serve”—but once relaxed
Decorum (roadblocks to surmount), he
Has sacrificed longstanding name
For a dark shadow on the same.

What is a law court if not venue
For legal and juridical
Integrity to grace the menu,
A court not “packed” by cheat at all,
But having claimed a stolen seat,
Past virtue fizzles from the sheet.

Even let Merrick Garland vouch
For the usurper’s quality,
A justice is a Scaramouch
Who gains his place through villainy,
And all associated then
Bear taint—as lawyers and as men.

Comments are closed.
    Picture

    News?

    A new poem is always news to the poet.
    ​Or whatever.

    Archives

    April 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed