cler·i·hew n A humorous verse consisting of two rhymed couplets in lines of irregular length, usually about a person whose name serves as one of the rhymes. [After Edmund Clerihew Bentley (1875-1956), British writer.] – The Free Dictionary.(Available at https://www.thefreedictionary.com/clerihew).These rhymes are intended to be a friendly guide to commonly employed legal terms, arranged alphabetically (with X and Z exempted)..A.Abuse of Process.Is meant for the Press.And anyone who fights.For Human Rights..B.Breach of Contract.Is an unlawful act..But to read the fine print.You have to squint..C.Consumer action.Is the result of faction.With crooks who play hard.With your warranty card..D.Defamation is slander.Spoken to pander.To prime-time slaves.Of television knaves..E.'Executor': the sordid name.Of the person you blame.If you fetch up nil.On the testator's will..F.'Final Judgement' slams the door.On hearing the case any more..Like it or lump it:.It's writ when it's writ..G.Grievous Bodily Harm.Can be inflicted without qualm.By keepers of the peace..May their lathis increase!.H.Habeas Corpus.Is meant to help us.If we're sent to jail.For reasons that fail..I.'Inter se' is one of those phrases.That frequently appear in legal cases..It's Latin, I think,.And will make you blink..J.'Justice', per Joseph Heller.(I mean the Catch-22 feller),.'Is a knee in the gut.'.Tut, tut..K.'Know-How' is a blight.Disguised as a right.To steal you blind.With patents that bind..L.Labour Laws.Are full of flaws..Hence the boss's rage.Over the Minimum Wage..M.Matricide.Is the use of cyanide.To transform your Mummy.Into a regular mummy..N.'Nolle Prosequi' is the Latin way.For judges to pronounce, or say:.'It's taking up space,.So I'm dismissing your case.'.O.Official Secrets Acts.Are for punishing bureaucrats.Who fail to suppress.Their bosses' mess..P.Public Interest Litigation.Is like forest vegetation..Nip it in the bud.Before it overwhelms Me Lud..Q.'Quid Pro Quo'.Is what a so-and-so.Is paid as bribes..It gives him good vibes..R.'Recusal' is an excuse.(And often a ruse).For a judge to bunk.For reasons of funk..S.'Sine Die' is 'later',.But without any data.On precisely when..It could be tomorrow, or two years, or ten..T.Tortfeasors are guys.Who are rather like lice:.They cause harm.And lack charm..U.'Ultra Vires' is Latin.For someone who's actin'.Beyond their power..It's unlawful behaviour..V.Vexatious Litigants.Are no mitigants.Of a judge's fury..(Nor that of the jury.).W.Writs of Mandamus.Can well land on us.If we play hooky.With the rule booky..Y.Young Offenders are punks.And under-aged skunks.Who get the judge's goat.Before they can vote..[The author is an economist who lives and works in Chennai.]
