'No, no!' said the [Red] Queen. 'Sentence first—verdict afterwards.'

The Wall Street Journal seems to be using "Red Queen" as a term. Today:

This is the same kangaroo court the last month leaked its guilty verdict ... before ________ even had a chance to plead his case. ... The Europeans pulling this Red Queen proceeding prefer that they be able to smear with selective leaks without rebuttal.

And last Febrary 22, a more complete explanation:

The trial of __________ is the closest version of a Red Queen trial this country has had in a long time. ... Lewis G. Carroll's account of the Knave's trial before the Red Queen and White Rabbit is famous for the Queen's dictum, "Sentence first, verdict afterward." But read the full transcript of the mock trial and one will see that the real subject is not justice, but the humiliation of the defendant.

Ignoring the political issues, how do you feel about this usage? I rather like it.

An interesting muddling of Lewis Carroll (famous children's author) with Leo G. Carroll (well known character actor and the head of U.N.C.L.E in "The man from UNCLE".)

Not a mistake I'd expect of so erudite a newspaper.

I like the metaphorical usage though. I can think of many places where it seems to have been applied in recent years but to avoid getting into any political debate I'll refrain from mentioning them.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BobHale,