An astonishing display of ignorance by a US cabinet member played out in a hearing room on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 20. The ignoramus in question was Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, testifying before the Senate Committee on ... homeland security. Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire asked Noem what the phrase "habeas corpus" means. Digression here. As a matter of simple translation, that Latin phrase means in English "you have the body". The phrase is significant in Anglo-American jurisprudence because we are to think of it as directed to a warden or jailor, "You have the body of John Doe in your custody, now you are required to come to court and explain why you are holding that body and whether you should be allowed to continue to do so." In other words, "habeas corpus" is the name for a venerable proceeding that limits unlawful detention by requiring such public explanations. Digression complete. Secretary Noem...