Jumping to Conclusions

[deckardcanine]

A kangaroo court is a court that ignores
Or perverts norms of justice and law.
It tends to attain predetermined conclusions
And see that as good, not a flaw.

The slang term debuted in the mid-19th century,
Judging from use in the press.
Despite what some think, it was not to be found
In Australia before the U.S.

One theory: When England was banishing convicts
To Oz, those were “kangaroo jumps.”
Alas, I cannot find a source for this theory,
So maybe it’s only for chumps.

The ’49 gold rush brought thousands of Aussies
And “claim-jumping” miners, it’s true,
But evidence says that the term’s a bit older,
So pinning it there wouldn’t do.

Perhaps frontier judges would “hop” from one town
To another while being unfair,
Or justice proceeded “by leaps,” or the court
Would pop up as if out of thin air.

It may mean the court is in somebody’s pocket.
Perhaps someone just liked the sound.
Whatever the reason, the term and the concept
Behind it have sure stuck around.