NewsBlues mrsbgrammar Page 69
Chapter 2 Word Choice
59
charged/booked, opening statements,
indictment handed up
Mrs. B turns your attention today to some mistakes we're making in
covering the legal system.
A former reporter for nearly 20 years in print and broadcast
journalism, who now teaches media classes at Tulane and Loyola
Universities, says when he hears the word "charged" instead of
BOOKED and the term "opening arguments" rather than OPENING
STATEMENTS, he gets annoyed:
"When I covered the courts for newspapers and television, I
learned early on that only POLICE can BOOK a suspect.
"It's then up to the DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE to FILE
A CHARGE. Just because one is booked doesn't mean he/she
will actually be charged.
"As for `opening arguments,' the fact is that lawyers make
STATEMENTS at the BEGINNING and ARGUE at the END."
Pierre DeGruy
New Orleans
And Mrs. B would add that a grand jury hands UP an indictment.
A judge hands DOWN a sentence.
