Thetedium lifted when he discovered that no less than the chief justice of theland, John Roberts, had spiced his opinion with lyrics from the classic BobDylan folk song, "Like a Rolling Stone":
Liptakastutely pointed out that the chief justice slightly thefolksinger. Dylan actually wrote:
Butafter reading a long paper by a University of Tennessee law professor, Liptakwent on note that judicial opinions borrow from popular songs.
So wepeeked at that academic paper, by Prof. Alex Long, and sure enough, legal textsare replete with words from pop and rock songs. How can you speak out against the spoiling of natural resources,for instance, Professor Long suggests, without referencing Joni Mitchell'slines from "Big Yellow Taxi":
Longeven came up with a list of the most frequently quoted musical artists. Bruce Springsteen placed third. The Beatles came in second. And the aforementioned Bob Dylan appears tobe the most referenced songwriter in American law. Reporter Liptak found Dylan's line, from Subterranean Homesick Blues,in 19 different court decisions.
It'llreally be newsworthy, though, when vintage pop lyrics like show up in a U.S. Supreme Court decision.