When caught, invoke the Goodwin defense

A journalism professor has been caught repurposing published student text as his own. As the search continues, so far six of his columns appear contaminated.

He has invoked the Goodwin defense, however. This consists of two parts. In his own words: (1) "Careless, I'll admit, but not intentional," and (2) "... never before have I been accused of plagiarism."

Meanwhile his newspaper editor is staging the tried-and-true James McPherson defense of plagiarists: "...the ethical equivalent of a misdemeanor, not a felony."