The function read-ns-decl (both copies in each of two namespaces) contain the expression:
This is equivalent to (read rdr), plus a wasted call to str whose return value is discarded.
The call to str was added to force the Clojure reader to throw exceptions immediately when it encounters a syntax error. See TNS-1
Sorry for the noise. I was trying out pre-release version of Eastwood linter on as many contrib libraries as possible, and it found that odd-looking code. It didn't occur to me to look through the commit history to see when it became like it was, and why. Subtle.
Mark old resolved issues as 'closed'