A: George was sentenced to 12 years in prison. What were the charges against him?

B: It was something of a kangaroo court and the charges were never made public.

Note: This term refers to an unfair, biased, or hasty judicial proceeding that ends in a harsh punishment, or an unauthorized trial conducted by individuals who have taken the law into their own hands. The concept dates to the early 19th century. Scholars trace its origin to the historical practice of itinerant judges on the U.S. frontier. These roving judges were paid on the basis of how many trials they conducted, and in some instances their salary depended on the fines from the defendants they convicted. The term kangaroo court comes from the image of these judges hopping from place to place, guided less by concern for justice than by the desire to wrap up as many trials as the day allowed.