A crafty and gruff judge. |
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. |