Some of the elements of courts-martial differ from trials in the civilian realm.
In his Remarques sur la langue françoise, utiles à ceux qui veulent bien parler et bien escrire (1647; "Remarks on the French Language, Useful for Those Who Wish to Speak Well and Write Well"), Vaugelas recorded what he considered good usage: the speech of the "soundest" elements of the court and the written language of the most intelligent authors.
IN the intense focus on the Supreme Court's future, with crucial decisions expected this week and speculation at a peak over whether new appointments will soon drive the court further to the right, it is easy to overlook an important element of the court's present: how conservative it is right now.
At the least, the rigorous questioning showed that the seven judges had briefed themselves carefully on the case, which they had been eager to take, and that several elements of the lower-court decision could yet be reversed.
My friend proudly explained how each element of the court had been carefully chosen, recasting justice for post-apartheid South Africa.
The second main element of the court's decision — which refers, not incidentally, to "the so-called rights of LGBT persons" — was an assertion of judicial restraint.
But an important element of the court's reasoning in Brown suggests that the essence of discrimination does not lie in treating some persons more favorably than others.
Other elements include county courts, local courts (whose decisions may be appealed to county courts), and military courts.
Christian Lacroix also seemed light on his feet, blending elements of flamenco with Spanish court colors in a lucid and original take on modern dressing.
Mr. Bush and his political team have also worked hard to court elements of traditionally Democratic electoral blocs, including labor unions and Hispanic voters, without alienating their base of white conservatives in the South and West.
Major Hasan is representing himself, one of many elements of his long-delayed court-martial that legal experts say will make it one of the most unpredictable and significant military trials in recent history.
