But in general, it allows voters to cast ballots in person before Election Day using either voting machines or so-called absentee ballots -- without having to provide an excuse.

CNN: Early voting: Every day is Election Day

Mr Paxton is alive to the complexities of politics without for once making them an excuse to avoid clear judgments.

ECONOMIST: Fascism in history

Recent legislation - which is governed across the UK by the Home Office - made it an offence to possess an airgun in a public place without reasonable excuse such as vermin control near farms.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Scotland | Airgun plea after toddler's death

In his ruling, Judge Korman criticised the Obama administration's justification, calling it "an excuse to deprive the overwhelming majority of women of their rights to obtain contraceptives without unjustified and burdensome restrictions".

BBC: US judge lifts 'morning after' pill age limit

"The invocation of the adverse effect of Plan B on 11-year-olds is an excuse to deprive the overwhelming majority of women of their right to obtain contraceptives without unjustified and burdensome restrictions, " he wrote.

WSJ: Judge Eases Restrictions on Plan B Emergency Contraceptive

These aren't the words that I used or how I said it to him, and that, you know, maybe she had seen drafts of notes, trying to obviously give an excuse as to how Linda Tripp could possibly know about my relationship with the President without me having been the one to have told her.

BBC: Monica Lewinsky's evidence

Willingham used to tell her to stay in her kitchen for a day, without leaving, to comprehend what it was like to be confined in prison, but she had always found an excuse not to do it.

NEWYORKER: Trial by Fire