Brutal Benchslap Tags DOJ Prosecutors As 'Pretentious' And 'Inept'

Cranky judge rips federal prosecutors for "ineptitude" in his courtroom.

BenchslapUPDATE: Check out the transcript of this hearing because it’s so much worse than the opinion alone.

It’s rare to see a benchslap strike at the core competence of a lawyer appearing before the court. Incisive attacks on misguided briefing or smooth clowning dumb arguments are not uncommon, but calling out lawyers for very grasp of the profession is a rare event. And when that criticism is launched at the Department of Justice, home to some of the supposed cream of the crop, it’s an extra treat for Above the Law.

Judge Lynn Hughes has issued some humiliating benchslaps before and has even ended up on the wrong end of a benchslap courtesy of the Fifth Circuit, so when it’s safe to call Judge Hughes a veteran of the benchslap process.

In the trial of Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan, a man accused of trying to join Daesh, the D.C.-based DOJ prosecutors had a hell of a time getting their hands on a transcript. Judge Hughes had very little sympathy, issuing an “Order of Ineptitude” and laying into the lawyers with the ferocity of a man who refuses to squander a second of his life tenure to moron-induced delay:

Something tells me Judge Hughes is a big fan of LMGTFY.

Fed judge slaps prosecutors for “ineptitude” in terror case [Houston Chronicle]

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Earlier: Judge Tells Biglaw Firm To Stop Wasting His Time In Entertaining Benchslap
Judge Posner Rips Poor Winston & Strawn Lawyer
Benchslap of the Day: Keep It Short, Sweet, and Humiliating
Professional Benchslapper Gets Admonished By Fifth Circuit Over His Own Racial Insensitivity

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