TODAY’S JIM DOERTY AWARD FOR CONSTITUTIONALLY CLUELESS JUDGING GOES TO Denver municipal judge Robert L. Patterson for this statement to a lawyer in a civil rights case:

You are not to reference the Constitution in these proceedings. You will not address it in voir dire, you will not address it in your opening remarks, you will not ask any questions about the Constitution when you summon your witnesses, and you will not talk about the Constitution when you give your closing arguments.

Jeez.

UPDATE: NZ Bear emails that he’s not sure the quote from the judge is accurate: he says he seems to recall the judge denies saying this, but he can’t find the source. I’ll look into it, but until then you should regard this as unverified.