Slip of the tongue

Some of the more interesting reading in court judgments comes in the exchanges with the judge that sometimes end up being included in the transcript after the formal judgment has been given. I mentioned the case of Connor v Birmingham City Council the other day and the following extract comes from the transcript to that case:

MR SINGLETON: Your Honour, can I make my usual application at the conclusion of a hearing before your Honour, that my name be amended to Singleton?

JUDGE HAMILTON: I am sorry, have I done it again? I am sorry. I have done it before.

MR SINGLETON: I know exactly how it arises, one becomes convinced in one’s own mind and it sticks there.

JUDGE HAMILTON: Yes, once you have done it. I am sorry, I do apologise though Mr Singleton.

MR SINGLETON: But that aside and onto matters of real moment…

JUDGE HAMILTON: Do you know I thought about it at the time when I was saying it. I thought this is not quite right, but I could not think what was right.

MR SINGLETON: Well, your Honour has avoided a mistake that one of your judicial brethren made which was to refer to me as Mr Simpleton. I wasn’t sure whether it formed part of the judgement or was merely an error.

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