# Is this what courtroom sketches have come to? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 11, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845 "2010-06-11T20:57:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/1 "2010-06-11T20:57:17Z")
[Link.](http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Blagojevich-Corruption-Trial/ss/events/pl/120908blagojevich;_ylt=AvR5RQ3ExCs0cI8lcOC.D4kSq594;_ylu=X3oDMTFlcWFuNHZ0BHBvcwMzBHNlYwN5bl9yXzNzbG90X3NsaWRlc2hvdwRzbGsDc2xpLWV2LWxpbms-#photoViewer=/100608/480/urn_publicid_ap_org_f4d8decf15d648859b433e20bd704e6f) The artist certainly likes to draw profiles. There is a certain Picasso-esque quality about them, though. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/2 "2010-06-11T21:05:00Z")
That’s just sad. I’d do worse, but then again, I’m a sales clerk. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/3 "2010-06-11T21:09:16Z")
Maybe he’s of Easter Islander descent; I’m detecting a touch of moai in those faces. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/4 "2010-06-11T21:16:24Z")
I dunno. He captured that sleazy preacher/used car salesman/politician hair look perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/5 "2010-06-11T21:18:33Z")
Surely he’s just publicising the right to bear small arms. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/6 "2010-06-11T21:23:53Z")
And why, in the first sketch, does that one dude in the jury have his back to the court? Has he been bought or intimidated by the Blogo’s thugs to not pay attention and let Blogo off? And why, in the third sketch, is that guy running a marathon through the courtroom? Don’t they have security guards to keep the marathoners out on the streets during the run? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/7 "2010-06-11T21:28:02Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Maybe he’s of Easter Islander descent; I’m detecting a touch of moai in those faces. Me too. He did nail the crook’s hair, but the ex-governor’s brother appears to be half-Japanese and half-PBS logo. [Here’s what he looks like in real life.](http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/UPGcaSCj9ra/Rod+Blagojevich+Arraigned+Chicago+Corruption/2kVe3S0yqkE/Robert+Blagojevich) Oh, and I just saw the third sketch. [Blago’s lawyer is doing the robot!](http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Blagojevich-Corruption-Trial/ss/events/pl/120908blagojevich;_ylt=AvR5RQ3ExCs0cI8lcOC.D4kSq594;_ylu=X3oDMTFlcWFuNHZ0BHBvcwMzBHNlYwN5bl9yXzNzbG90X3NsaWRlc2hvdwRzbGsDc2xpLWV2LWxpbms-/im:/100608/480/urn_publicid_ap_org_f4d8decf15d648859b433e20bd704e6f/#photoViewer=/100608/480/urn_publicid_ap_org60d06106430746c6a916aef10a49e925) AWESOME! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/8 "2010-06-11T21:37:40Z")
[“You distract them with your hair while I run for help.”](http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Blagojevich-Corruption-Trial/ss/events/pl/120908blagojevich;_ylt=AvR5RQ3ExCs0cI8lcOC.D4kSq594;_ylu=X3oDMTFlcWFuNHZ0BHBvcwMzBHNlYwN5bl9yXzNzbG90X3NsaWRlc2hvdwRzbGsDc2xpLWV2LWxpbms-/im:/100608/480/urn_publicid_ap_org_f4d8decf15d648859b433e20bd704e6f?AID=10606473&PID=3865083/#photoViewer=/100608/480/urn_publicid_ap_org60d06106430746c6a916aef10a49e925) ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/9 "2010-06-11T22:02:28Z")
Maybe the artist is hoping that, by copying the look of Egyptian art, his or her paintings will last for thousands of years. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/10 "2010-06-11T22:04:37Z")
I propose they mummify the artist. ---
**Author:** ![Nicolas\_Bourbaki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecc23a/32.png) [@Nicolas\_Bourbaki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nicolas_Bourbaki)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/11 "2010-06-11T22:27:57Z")
That looks like a Donald Trump caricature from _MAD_ that he traced over and recolored with black hair. :rolleyes: It’d explain why it’s always from the same angle, and looks so much better than the crap in the rest of his drawings. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/12 "2010-06-11T22:30:20Z")
It’s Blagojevich. Even photo-realistic renderings are going to look like a ridiculous cartoon with that guy. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/13 "2010-06-11T23:37:25Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > [Link.](http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Blagojevich-Corruption-Trial/ss/events/pl/120908blagojevich;_ylt=AvR5RQ3ExCs0cI8lcOC.D4kSq594;_ylu=X3oDMTFlcWFuNHZ0BHBvcwMzBHNlYwN5bl9yXzNzbG90X3NsaWRlc2hvdwRzbGsDc2xpLWV2LWxpbms-#photoViewer=/100608/480/urn_publicid_ap_org_f4d8decf15d648859b433e20bd704e6f) > > The artist certainly likes to draw profiles. There is a certain Picasso-esque quality about them, though. I had a feeling those were the exact sketches you were going to link to. I saw some of these in the paper the other day and thought exactly the same as the title of your OP. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/14 "2010-06-11T23:42:48Z")
> [@BobArrgh](#): > > Maybe the artist is hoping that, by copying the look of Egyptian art, his or her paintings will last for thousands of years. 🙂 Slide number three looks the attorney is ice skating through the courtroom. I almost want one of the originals now. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/15 "2010-06-11T23:51:26Z")
Simple explanation. 6th graders from Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, attending the trial on a field trip… sketch artist was running late (or maybe had a couple of drinks at lunch)… do I have to draw you a picture? ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/16 "2010-06-11T23:53:37Z")
Every artist who has to make a living doing something else is crying right now!! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2010, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/17 "2010-06-12T00:07:04Z")
Damn. They remind me of Ethiopian illustrations for some reason - kind of ritualistic and loaded with meaning for believers. Only without the enormous eyes and surrealistic index fingers and with weird hair. Really weird hair. That was probably the newspaper’s primary concern regarding the artist’s skill: can he get that hair right? And he/she sure can! ---
**Author:** ![smee\_goan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@smee\_goan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smee_goan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2010, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/18 "2010-06-12T00:30:24Z")
I blame the cop that ran over people in the Hockey cup parade… ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2010, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/19 "2010-06-12T00:44:42Z")
Maybe he’s doing his sketches from an odd position, in a cupboard or under a bench, so that his subjects don’t know that he is there, thus enabling him to capture them in lifelike poses. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2010, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845/20 "2010-06-12T01:27:34Z")
As if Obama doesn’t have enough to do, [he’s on the jury](http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Blagojevich-Corruption-Trial/ss/events/pl/120908blagojevich;_ylt=AvR5RQ3ExCs0cI8lcOC.D4kSq594;_ylu=X3oDMTFlcWFuNHZ0BHBvcwMzBHNlYwN5bl9yXzNzbG90X3NsaWRlc2hvdwRzbGsDc2xpLWV2LWxpbms-/im:/100608/480/urn_publicid_ap_org_f4d8decf15d648859b433e20bd704e6f?AID=10606473&PID=3865083/#photoViewer=/100608/480/urn_publicid_ap_org2449852158f94207b094bba2e3d2a78a). Isn’t that a conflict of interest, or something? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-what-courtroom-sketches-have-come-to/542845.md?page=2)