Guilty Pleasures: Comedy and Law in America

Few people associate law books with humor. Yet the legal world—in particular the American legal system—is itself frequently funny. Indeed, jokes about the profession are staples of American comedy. And there is actually humor within the world of law too: both lawyers and judges occasionally strive to be funny to deal with the drudgery of their duties. Just as importantly, though, our legal system is a strong regulator of humor. It encourages some types of humor while muzzling or punishing o...