Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Star Trek II for Legal Precedent

This is something that could probably only occur in Texas, a core philosophy of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan has been enshrined as part of the decision written by Justice Don Willett of the Texas Supreme Court. For the cast of Robinson vs. Crown Cork Seal Company he wrote:
Appropriately weighty principles guide our course. First, we recognize that police power draws from the credo that "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Second, while this maxim rings utilitarian and Dickensian (not to mention Vulcan), it is cabined by something contrarian and Texan: distrust of intrusive government and a belief that police power is justified only by urgency, not expediency.
With that came a footnote to explain the reference:
See STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (Paramount Pictures 1982). The film references several works of classic literature, none more prominently than A Tale of Two Cities. Spock gives Admiral Kirk an antique copy as a birthday present, and the film itself is bookended with the book's opening and closing passages. Most memorable, of course, is Spock's famous line from his moment of sacrifice: "Don't grieve, Admiral. It is logical. The needs of the many outweigh . . ." to which Kirk replies, "the needs of the few."
Very cool, shows that Trekkies are everywhere. (via IO9)

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