Sword Play, Part II.

Before long, I began to notice my neophyte opponent was replicating all of my actions in trial.

When I stood, he stood.

When I sat, he sat.

Testing the extent of the copying, I decided to begin my opening statement with an arcane and unduly formal introduction: "May it please the court."

Sure enough, he started his opening statement with precisely the same language.

I just hoped he would parrot my request that the judgment be entered in favor of my client.