Courts

Sometimes The Best Legal Commentary Comes From Comedians

The Supreme Court was one of the most consistent jokes of 2023.

By Chris Williams on January 02, 2024 1:18 pm
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Pictured: Someone told Clarence he can’t have billionaires fund his luxurious lifestyle because it looks bad.

Welcome to 2024. You made it through! A lot happened last year — there was the Clarence Thomas scandal, the Clarence Thomas scandal, and don’t even get me started on the Clarence Thomas scandal. And while 2023 had a great deal of phenomenal journalism, we always appreciate when a comedian comes with a set that really captures the spirit of the controversy. And few did that better last year than Roy Wood Jr. If you’re looking for a quick laugh or need to bring your non-legal friends up to speed, his two-minute bit on Thomas’s Crow dependency should be a go to.

There is no guarantee that this year won’t also be flush with law breaking from the judges sitting on our highest court — maybe Alito and Thomas make a resolution to stop embarrassing the Court or Roberts decides to grow a backbone — but I’m willing to bet my money on PUN and expect more of the same. Will that be disastrous for our legal landscape? Yes, but I take a little solace in knowing there will also be some great jokes about it in 2024. Wait, this is an election year. So much for solace.

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.