An Overview of the Intersection of Law and Humor

Humor and the Law:
Few people associate the justice system with comedy. Yet the law is frequently funny. Jokes about the U.S. legal profession are staples of comedy. The text of law itself can even be funny. In addition, judges and lawyers overcome boredom with their jobs by cracking jokes. Finally, the legal system regulates humor, protecting some kinds of humor and punishing other types. This talk will cover all three types of humor, using many examples of comedy to illustrate:
1. Law's Attempt to Regulate Humor:
1. Law regulates humor directly imposing direct prohibitions. For example, a judge can stifle humor by threatening someone with contempt of court or by imposing criminal penalties when someone threatens to blow up the courthouse or kill the U.S. President.

2. Law regulates humor indirectly through lawsuits brought by private people for money damages or other remedies. These remedies can discourage certain types of humor. When the remedies are denied, the law allows the joke to occur.
1. Comedy generally penalized: Comedy that threatens injury or death, grossly ridicules someone, and threatens national security.
2. Comedy generally not penalized: Clever comedy such as comedy that includes a play on words, contains a political message or combines two items or concepts that do not ordinarily go together (incongruous comedy).
B. Humor About the Law
a. Lawyer Jokes
b. Judge Jokes
c. Jokes About the Legal System and Legal Texts

C. Humor in the Law
a. Legal Proceedings
b. Funny Laws
c. Funny Case Facts

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