By: jackie.sauter

In 2000 and 2001, Dennis Miller served as an analyst on Monday Night Football. He was not very good at breaking down the X’s and O’s from what I remember, but I loved when he reeled off analogies and obscure references in his signature rapid-fire style.

Miller’s cerebral commentary led to the creation of “The Annotated Dennis Miller,” which provided an explanation and background for the comedian’s references.

Which brings me to Judge Glenn T. Harrell Jr. of the Court of Appeals. Harrell, as noted previously in this blog, likes to sprinkle his opinions with cultural and creative references — like using a “Seinfeld” episode to illustrate bad faith in a business transaction.

Harrell explains the references in his opinions’ footnotes, essentially annotating himself. So in Harrell’s honor, I intend to chronicle the judge’s annotations.

In yesterday’s opinion (PDF) allowing Loyola College to build a religious retreat in northern Baltimore County, Harrell referenced Harry Potter when he wrote a local legislature puts on its “Sorting Hat” to determine which uses are permitted in a given zone and which will require special exceptions.

“The ‘Sorting Hat’ is a magical artifact that is used to determine in which house (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin) first-year students at Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft are to be assigned,” Harrell explained in the footnote. “After being placed on a student’s head, the Sorting Hat measures the inherent qualities of the student and assigns him or her to the appropriate house.”

DANNY JACOBS, Legal Affairs Writer