The widely-recognised image is included in a judgment handed down by Judge Mark E. Walker, a US federal judge in Florida, during the summer.

Judge Walker used the meme to illustrate “the defendant’s litigation tactic … to point fingers”, with a footnote explaining the meme’s origin.

In a blog about the ruling, Professor Eric Goldman of Santa Clara University School of Law said: “It should be clear to all parties that, by using a meme to emphasise the point, the judge has no fucks left to give.”

He added: “While memes can be cute or fun, I hope judges will use them advisedly.”

Legal Cheek suggests that this could be the first-ever use of an internet meme in a written judgment.

The image in question originates from a 1967 episode of Spider-Man where the eponymous superhero confronts a villain disguised as him.