A federal judge in Florida has refused to delay a case because one of the key witnesses – a federal agent – had travel plans to see the solar eclipse.
In an amusing three-page ruling issued Friday, Judge Steven Merryday denied the request by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent.
Prosecutors wanted Monday’s trial postponed because the agent had booked a trip to see the eclipse on a day when defendant Joseph Bishop was to stand trial for unlawfully transporting firearms.
In an amusing three-page ruling issued Friday, Florida Judge Steven Merryday denied a request by the federal agent to delay a trial so he could travel to see the solar eclipse
Recalling popular dialogue from the TV classic Star Trek, the judge wrote that the prosecutor who filed the request ‘boldly moves (where no AUSA has moved before).’
‘The solar eclipse is no longer mysterious, supernatural, foreboding or ominous,’ wrote Merryday.
‘An eclipse is just another astral event, precisely predictable since the day the Babylonians discovered the governing formula.
‘Cruel fate has dictated that the August 21 eclipse will occur during the trial of an action in which the agency is a principal participant on behalf of the United States.’
Merryday wrote that the prosecutor’s motion had proposed to ‘subordinate the time and resources of the court, of the opposing counsel, of the witnesses and of the jurors to one person’s aspiration to view a ‘total’ solar eclipse for no more than two minutes and forty-two seconds.’
A large chunk of the ruling cited lyrics from singer Carly Simon’s ‘You’re So Vain,’ which contains a line about flying to witness an eclipse.
The judge also quoted from the poet Wordsworth, name-checked Greek historian Herodotus, and referenced a Russian opera.
‘When an indispensable participant, knowing that a trial is imminent, pre-pays for some personal indulgence, that participant, in effect, lays in a bet,’ Merryday wrote.
‘This time, unlike Carly Simon’s former suitor, whose ‘horse, naturally won,’ this bettor’s horse has – naturally – lost. The motion is DENIED.’
Darkness swept across the US as the eclipse, traveled from coast to coast on Monday – starting in Oregon and ending just before 3pm EDT in South Carolina.
Millions had turned out to see the natural spectacle, including Donald Trump and the rest of the first family, who watched from the White House’s Truman Balcony.
It was the first total solar eclipse to sweep across America in 99 years.
Darkness swept across the US as the eclipse, traveled from coast to coast on Monday – starting in Oregon and ending just before 3pm EDT in South Carolina
U.S. President Donald Trump watched the solar eclipse with first Lady Melania Trump and son Barron from the Truman Balcony at the White House