Chewbacca Defense

The phrase Chewbacca Defense refers to any nonsensical legal defense. The phrase originated in the animated TV series South Park, in the second season episode Chef Aid.

The episode satirizes (real life) lawyer Johnny Cochran, who defended O. J. Simpson during his murder trial. In the episode, he takes part in a dispute between Chef and a major record company over copyright ownership of a song. Although it is obvious (to the viewer at least) that Chef is the real writer of the song, Cochran, lawyer for the record company, uses his famous Chewbacca Defense, which he (supposedly) used during the O. J. Simpson trial:

Ladies and gentlemen of the supposed jury, I have one final thing I want you to consider: (pulling down a diagram) this is Chewbacca. Chewbacca is a Wookiee from the planet Kashyyyk, but Chewbacca lives on the planet Endor. Now, think about that. That does not make sense!

Why would a Wookiee—an eight foot tall Wookiee—want to live on Endor with a bunch of two foot tall Ewoks? That does not make sense!

But more importantly, you have to ask yourself: what does that have to do with this case? Nothing. Ladies and gentlemen, it has nothing to do with this case! It does not make sense!

Look at me, I'm a lawyer defending a major record company, and I'm talkin' about Chewbacca. Does that make sense? Ladies and gentlemen, I am not making any sense. None of this makes sense.

And so you have to remember, when you're in that jury room deliberating and conjugating the Emancipation Proclamation—does it make sense? No! Ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, it does not make sense.

If Chewbacca lives on Endor, you must acquit! The defense rests.

Internet culture

The Chewbacca Defense has been mentioned on many weblogs and internet discussion forumss, especially ones that often feature legal issues. Tech-site Slashdot is one such example, where the Chewbacca Defence has been occasionally mentioned in discussion of legal affairs—usually cases involving Microsoft, SCO, or the RIAA—the implication being that their legal arguments make no sense. [1] [1] [1]

See also: Slashdot trolling phenomena