Trial is Like Petting a Tiger

The jury sees all

Going to trial is like petting a tiger. The only way I would know that is if I have placed my hands on a live tiger.

The Lincoln County Fair

In August 1996, the Lincoln County fair is in full swing in Star Valley, Wyoming. Star Valley is south of Jackson, Wyoming (which probably tells you nothing unless you have been to Wyoming). During summer Star Valley is verdant green with farms and pasture land from one side of the valley to the other. During winter, the valley is pure white from almost constant snow fall owing to its altitude: 5600 feet above sea level to 7000 feet above sea level. Imagine the most beautiful Swiss mountain valley you can think of. That is what Star Valley looks like.

The Lincoln County fair is a temporary event staged in a city park. The fair offers every country pleasure imaginable including constant country /western music, the smell of livestock mixed with deep-fried foods, rodeos, a demolition derby, a hypnotist show, and tigers. Yes, tigers.

The main midway for the fair is on the city’s softball fields. Near the fields, where the park has trees grass, a six-foot-high chain-link fence encloses a “big cat” display with adult mountain lions, blacks leopards, spotted leopards, and a jaguar. The big cats are lolling in grass under the shade of the large tree in the center of the chain-link enclosure. They pay little attention to what is happening outside the fence.

The display’s curator raises money to support the big cat operation by letting people “play” with tiger cubs for a fee, or if you are willing to part with more, the curator will take your picture with a bigger tiger.

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