I am thinking of full retirement so I am free to do other things. I may have found the perfect job for the likes of me, assuming I could get hired. See Saudi Arabia advertises for eight new executioners as beheading rate soars, The Guardian (May 18, 2015).
A Saudi Arabian executioner shows off his sword. Executioners are also required to perform amputations on those convicted of lesser offences. Photo credit: Magazine/Rex_Shutterstock
RGK
PS Thanks to a reader of this blog for the suggestion!
I watched the final episode of Wolf Hall last night. Anne Boleyn was beheaded and the executioner, a Frenchman, performed a balletic move before swinging his sword. It seems there is always someone willing to do the grisly deed. Hopefully you will find more useful adventures in your retirement years
I’m waiting for the process to be upgraded and automated: guillotines.
Then you’ll lose the interesting aspect of the job, Judge.
Eric Hines
And Joan says . . .
Dear Samurai Jurist,
Sounds like a great opportunity! I say go for it.
And BTW, why do we regard amputation as cruel and unusual punishment? With anesthesia and prosthetics the convicted person can recover in a few weeks and return to a productive, if to a degree limited life (on parole, as a rule). That is much cheaper than keeping the person locked up for years, and much less degrading for both the convict and the jailers.
Let’s do away with capital punishment and bring back manual punishment. Instead of taking the head of murderers, take both hands. Even with prosthetics they will have a much more difficult time wielding a murder weapon, thus reducing recidivism. In many cases violent criminals produce too much testosterone. Amputation could help there, as well.
Maybe not so much regarding the recidivism….
Eric Hines
Judge:
When I discuss the topic of retirement at work I always tell people that “You’ve got to have a Plan B.” Nonetheless, who the heck wants to trade in their judicial robes to wear a keffiyeh all day long (and carry a 4 foot scimitar?)?
Robert
I am sure there are also opportunities in North Korea…
You realize, I hope, that these guys don’t get law clerks (especially “elbow” clerks).
I have a better suggestion.
Very few people have the ability to write well. Even fewer people have the ability to do so with humor and panache. District Judge Charles S. Haight, Jr. (now sitting in the District of Connecticut) is one such person. I suspect you are another.
Go back over your career as a lawyer and a judge. Go over a compilation of your decisions as a judge. Get a law student or interested lawyer to help.
Prepare an outline by subject matter. Then write.
Focus on federal practice and those areas of the law that interest you. Within the bounds of ethics let your readers know what you think, why you came to your conclusions, etc…
What a tool that would be for the rest of us who haven’t been so blessed with your talents.
Its sure better than Hassan chop. (If you remember that Bugs bunny cartoon).
David,
Very funny, but sick. I love that.
All the best.
RGK
Terry,
And Joan says, “Whatever.” All the best.
RGK