...which is good, as a harried female lawyer is noting that he's asking the court to close the Golden Gate Bridge. Eli clarifies that he's asking the court to order the city to close the bridge, and I know semantics is important in law but I think I'd still kick him in the ribs for that one. Hey, the judge, as I mentioned in the recaplet, is played by Tom Irwin, Angela's father Graham on My So-Called Life! I'm glad enough to see him, but it makes me a little wistful, because he wouldn't be playing this bit part if that show had gotten the eighteen seasons it so clearly deserved. (I think Rickie and Jordan would have opened a bar together by now, don't you? ["And Rayanne would have written the Academy Award-winning movie Juno, yes." -- Joe R]) Anyway, Eli has filed a writ of mandamus (referred to as "mad anus" by Judge Graham, for which I suppose he can be forgiven, since we're in San Francisco), and the opposing counsel complains that it only applies if the city isn't meeting its legal obligations. They argue back and forth for a while, with Eli saying that the city is obliged to protect its citizenry, and the opposing counsel basically sneezing "CRACKPOTS!" into her hand. However, Judge Graham tells them that if he dismisses the case at this point, he immediately has to start a three-month trial on accounting practices. "I'll do anything to put that off for a day or two." Ladies and gentlemen, the machine of justice at its finest.