The use of slang in court proceedings can be tricky, especially in criminal cases where an uncommon slang term used by a witness can make a difference in a case. New York Times tech reporter Leslie Kaufman and law professor Greg Lastowka talk about how judges and lawyers have turned to sites like Urban Dictionary to help define slang terms and the legal implications of the trend.

— Why Urban Dictionary Comes In Handy On The Witness Stand | Talk of the Nation

Slang has always been a challenge for the courts in cases that involve vulgar or insulting language. Conventional dictionaries lag the spoken word by design. That has lawyers and judges turning to a more fluid source of definitions: Urban Dictionary, a crowdsourced collection of slang words on the Internet.

— Urban Dictionary Finds a Place in the Courtroom - NYTimes.com

Since conventional dictionaries don’t always include the latest in slang terminology, lawyers and judges are looking to define language in court cases by turning to Urban Dictionary.

— Law and Order and Urban Dictionary - Jen Doll - The Atlantic Wire

The site’s been used in cases ranging from a sexual harrassment lawsuit in Tennessee to a financial restitution case in Wisconsin, and it’s a trend that some legal minds don’t see reversing any time soon.

— Courts are increasingly turning to Urban Dictionary to clarify modern slang language | The Verge

Watson, IBM's supercomputer, memorized Urban Dictionary. Then it was taken away.

Who the Hell Cares if IBM’s Watson Swears? (Slate)