I found this a little disappointing after so much build up. It's good writing but there was no payoff as to why those words had the impact they did and the reason was effectively just a random choice by a judge
Exactly. The machinery of justice is decorated with all kinds of indicators of objectivity and wisdom: precedent, settled law, sentencing guidelines, burdens of proof, law schools filled with eminent scholars.
And yet someone has a bad day, or a change of heart, or ate a tasty taco for lunch, or just fell in love, and lives are ruined or saved.
> Every morning I wonder whether that day has Eleven Magic Words and, if it does, whether I’ll be able to figure them out. And every day that potential scares the shit out of me.