The young man was yet in his twenties and, although it was the first time he had ever practiced law before the State Supreme Court of New York, he was anything but intimidated. He boldly pleased his client's ignorance of an offense he had indeed committed.
The judge looked down from the bench and growled,
"Sir," every man is supposed to know that ignorance of the law is no excuse."
"I am aware of that, Your Honor," came the reply, in the same brash yet articulate manner. "Every shoemaker, every tailor, every bricklayer, every illiterate laborer is presumed to know the law; that is, everyone save judges of the court-and we have a Court of Appeals to correct their mistakes ..."