I was going to write about something cheerful, I swear

Anyone who has ever said that the law is about justice was a goddamned fool.

The law is not about equity, or fairness. The law is not about upholding what should be. The law, instead, appears to have evolved into a triumph of stare decisis over equity, where the rule of procedure and form predominate, but the concept of "justice for all" becomes an Elysian ideal which experience lawyers laugh cynically about with bitterness tainting their voices as they sit at their desks at 3 in the morning while making a short acquaintance with Jim, Jack and Johnnie because their wives have left them, their kids don't know them and this affidavit just has to be filed by 9 am, damnit.

Prove to me otherwise when the law runs roughshod over someone's rights simply because the judiciary's hands have been tied by some clumsy legislator's attempt at what I can only assume he believed to be a shining sword that would guard the government's tax dollars. Never mind that for the past ten years the judiciary has squirmed and fretted under the restraints that sat uneasily on shoulders bearing the burden of safeguarding the rights of the innocents - the legislature, smug in its belief that its work is done! moves on to more pressing issues, like putting priests in jail because they habour illegal immigrants (all hail the simplicity of strict liability offences, see how it streamlines the system)

"It is hard, but there is no choice." The law is clear.

Ten years ago, the Chief Justice himself said that there were no benefits to the system. And as for those unfortunates who get snared in the unforgiving confines of the legislation? "No regard can be had to their innocence."

And yet nothing changes.

You, whoever you are who drafted that piece of shit. I think you might have damned near broken a man's heart today. I hope you’re proud.