Lawyers are pretty set in their ways. Outside of doctors and philologists, we are one of the few trades that still deals in latin phrases. As a type, our appreciation of the classics even extends to our artistic enjoyments — the old-ass songs chosen by our Law Revue contestants should attest to that. You know what other date-appropriate endeavor is shared by lawyers both old and fledgling? That’s right, Star Wars, baby! Who better to provide some statistical analysis on our enjoyment than Westlaw?
Legal Current is observing May the 4th – inspired by a pun of the iconic Star Wars phrase, “May the force be with you” – by exploring Westlaw data for insights on the beloved franchise. An examination of Westlaw data across judicial opinions, trademark registrations, and secondary sources shows the impact Star Wars has made on the legal profession.
Judicial opinions: Briefs include a wealth of Star Wars references, with Darth Vader being the most popular citation. The villain is referenced in a range of situations, including when an individual is described as a bully, when a criminal wears a Darth Vader mask while committing a crime, and when the facts of the case include a twist of some sort, sometimes invoking the “Luke, I am your father” quote.
In addition, The Empire Strikes Back movie as well as Jedi mind tricks are frequently referenced in briefs. The latter is cited in instances where litigators may be trying to outsmart an opponent or sneak something questionable by a judge.
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I wonder how many times the “this is not the defendant you’re looking for” handwave trick actually worked in a courtroom.
Westlaw isn’t the only one paying homage to lawyers litigating in a galaxy far, far away. This galaxy, rather. You get what I’m going for:
https://twitter.com/StarWarsLawyer/status/1654124642024448001?s=20
In short, May the 4th be with you! If you’ve got some time to kill (and a Westlaw login), what better way to procrastinate at work than looking up a few Star Wars-related cases? In long:
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Everyone: “May the 4th be with you.”
Lawyers: “And may whatever religion, spirit, or universal science-based force that you may or may not believe in be with, near, around, or far away from you, depending on your personal understanding and preference."
— Brandy Mai (@crisistalker) May 4, 2023
MAY THE 4TH: WESTLAW DATA REVEALS HOW MANY LAWYERS ARE STAR WARS FANS [Legal Current]
Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s. He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at [email protected] and by tweet at @WritesForRent.