ARGUMENT OR HAIR SPLITTING? Jesuitical vs. Talmudic By Cullen Murphy An exchange occurred not long ago in California's Sacramento Superior and Municipal Courts. As a lawyer attempted to excuse his client's behavior with a convoluted explanation, Judge James Ford interrupted acidly with the comment, "That's just ... that's just too Jesuitical for words." The colloquy continued as follows: Lawyer: "Pardon me?" Judge: "It's too Jesuitical. You probably didn't go to a Jesuit school." Lawyer: "Certainly didn't. I am of the Jewish faith." Judge: "Then it's too Talmudic for words." One can almost hear the appreciative chuckles from the spectators' gallery at this bit of repartee--the overreactive, tension-dispelling response that very mild witticisms tend to produce in solemn venues. And yet someone should have risen to say, "Objection!" It is common to regard "Jesuitical"...