Supreme Courts are meant to uphold justice — but some rulings are downright bizarre. This article reveals the strangest legal decisions ever made and what they say about global law systems.
Justice Isn’t Always Predictable
Around the world, courts deal with everything from murder to marriage laws. But
sometimes, they make headlines for the weirdest reasons.
Let’s take a legal detour through some of the most jaw-dropping and confusing rulings ever delivered
- Monkeys Have Copyrights — India
In 2015, the Delhi High Court ruled that animals can hold certain legal rights. This sparked global debate when a monkey took selfies with a photographer’s camera.
The question: Who owns the copyright?
While the U.S. said animals can’t own intellectual property, India leaned toward protecting animal rights in an unprecedented way. - You Can Sue God — Romania
A Romanian prisoner once tried to sue God for “fraud, betrayal, and failing to keep him from the devil.”
Yes — God. The court dismissed it, but it was formally reviewed as a legal complaint. Talk about divine drama. - It’s Illegal to Die Here — France
In the village of Le Lavandou, France, the mayor passed a local law making it illegal to die within city limits unless you had pre-purchased a burial plot.
Why?
The town ran out of cemetery space.
It sounds like satire — but it was a real protest against the government’s refusal to approve a new graveyard. - Judges Must Take Lie Detector Tests — Philippines
To reduce corruption, the Supreme Court of the Philippines introduced polygraph testing for judges.
It raised eyebrows: Should justice be built on trust or surveillance?
Still, it reflected how deeply some countries are battling internal judicial dishonesty. - No Whistling Underwater — Canada
In Nova Scotia, there was an actual ruling that banned underwater whistling at public pools.
It was meant to avoid confusing lifeguards — since the sound mimics emergency whistles. Logical? Sure. Hilarious? Definitely. - Men Can’t Wear Wigs in Court — Zimbabwe
In 2019, Zimbabwe’s Chief Justice banned male judges from wearing colonial-style white wigs in court.
Why?
To break ties with outdated British traditions.
It was symbolic — but it highlighted how countries are redefining their legal identities. - Same-Sex Marriage Legalized by… Accident — Mexico
A local Mexican court issued a ruling allowing same-sex marriage in one state. Other regions soon copied it — but no national law had officially passed.
The result? Same-sex marriage became legal across Mexico through a domino effect, without a single federal ruling.
When Law Meets Culture, Surprises Follow
These strange court cases show that laws don’t just reflect logic — they echo history, culture, and human nature.
From suing God to protecting monkey selfies, the world of justice is full of twists that no one sees coming.
Sometimes law is precise. Other times… it’s just plain surreal.
