Judge Craw

The vulpine Judge Craw, having years
of judicial experience,
and being cunning and crafty,
recused himself of the court case
at risk of perceived jobbery.

  (The case was that of a soldier
  who ran a scam from his billet;
  since Judge Craw had relatives who
  were involved with the management
  of the base housing, he wisely
  wished no accusation of gain.)

Judge Craw had a reputation
for procacity, of being direct,
forward and some would even say
a reflection of a western
“hanging judge,” but nevertheless
acted very sheepish, and could
only mussitate when he first
began his official withdrawal.

Craw had an abundance of pride;
it must have seemed to him that this
would appear to be retrograde,
a backward step, not in keeping
with a judge who always took the
bull by the horns, a paragon
of assertiveness and honor.

But after the bailiff whispered
a quick and urgent aside, Judge
Craw regained his constitution,
his voice firm and loud and direct.
In the annals of law lore, some
say he was a funambulist,
walking that tightrope of ethics,
respect for law and decency.


[SR: 8]  (Lines: 34)
Hawk’s Vocabulary
8 words used.

Vulpine..........crafty, cunning.
Recuse...........to withdraw form a position of judging.
Jobbery..........public conduct for improper gain.
Billet..............lodging for a soldier.
Procacity.......forwardness or petulance.
Mussitate.......mumble or mutter.
Retrograde.....moving backward.
Funambulist...tightrope walker.