Who can forget the late, great Judge Marvin Teague of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. He once famously nicknamed a case "Almanza the Terrible" and one of its progeny "Baby Bastard Maldonado." See Kuch v. State, 686 SW2d 154.

Along those same lines, when he disliked the path a series of decisions was taking, he could wax eloquent:

"Today, we witness the bastard child that two judges of this Court gave birth to in Woodward v. State, 668 S.W.2d 337 (Tex.Cr.App.1982),reaching puberty. It will be most interesting to see what the bastard child looks like when it reaches full manhood." Bain v. State, 677 SW2d 51.

I am sure some of the older among us can remember even more colorful opinions. Where are you John Jasuta?

John Bradley
District Attorney
Williamson County, Texas