Vocabulary of the Law: Desultory- (Used in United States v. Hamilton, United States District Court of the District of Columbia, 1960)

Desultory- Lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm. (Oxford English Dictionary)

(as used in the majority opinion)-

"[The defendant and the deceased] played several games of pool. They imbibed intoxicating beverages in the rear of the establishment, and they also carried on desultory conversations. There was an exchange of banter between the deceased and the defendant, which developed into an argument, and finally into an acrimonious quarrel..."
United States v. Hamilton (1960)

Ponda Baba and his close chum and drinking buddy Dr. Evazan were enjoying a relaxing afternoon in Chalmun's Cantina in Mos Eisley listening to the house band Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes, carrying on desultory conversation and recanting of old stories with their fellow patrons. A young human pulled up to the bar and knocked Ponda Baba's drink over without apologizing, Ponda Baba recognized that a "party foul" had occurred and wished to point out to the young human, that knocking over drinks without apologizing wasn't just cool, it could be dangerous in certain contexts. At that point, Evazan took over and blew the whole thing way out of proportion, leading to a long and awkward trip between Ponda Baba and Evazan on the way to the medical droid station down the alleyway.

Vocabulary of the Law: Inimical- (Used in Souter's Dissent from Alden v. Maine, US Supreme Court, 1999)

Courts use a lot of specific language that's not used in every day conversation in their opinions. These 'vocabulary' posts will explain a term used in an opinion, and will hopefully give you a tasty treat to impress people with at future social functions.

Inimical- Adverse or injurious in tendency or influence; harmful, hurtful. (Oxford English Dictionary)

(as used in Souter's Dissent)-

"It would be hard to imagine anything more inimical to the republican conception, which rests on the understanding of its citizens precisely that the government is not above them but of them, its actions being governed by the law just like their own." Alden v. Maine (1999)

It was a little known fact that after completing a contract, Boba Fett would visit a psychotherapy clinic on Bespin and engage their services, where he would talk about his issues with abandonment and residual feelings of paternal loss (also known as "daddy issues") and finish up by participating in a group-based "cry session", where he would express his sorrows through extensive sobbing, and by communal hugging as a means to comfort those feelings. Fett had this information suppressed (often by threat of physical violence) as it was inimical to his well crafted image as an intimidating, no-nonsense killer for hire.