Table of Contents
Preface xvii
Acknowledgments xix
Chapter 1 Introduction to Judicial Writing 1
Chapter 2 Judicial Ethics 3
A Ethics Rules for Judges 5
B Ethics Rules for Judicial Clerks and Interns 6
C Ethics and Social Media 7
D Consequences 8
E Chart of Ethics Guidelines and Rules 9
Chapter 3 The Judge's Purpose and Audience 11
Chapter 4 Writing Research and Bench Memos 13
A Common Parts of a Trial Court Research Memo 14
1 Memo Heading 14
2 Question Presented 15
3 Brief Answer 16
4 Facts 16
5 Discussion with Legal Analysis 17
a Issue Statement or Conclusion 18
b Rule Statement 19
c Explanation of the Law 21
d Analysis 22
e Conclusion 24
6 Conclusion and Recommendation 24
B Model Research Memorandum with Annotations 25
C Common Parts of an Appellate Court Bench Memo 29
1 Caption 31
2 Introduction 31
3 Statement of the Issue and Short Answer 32
4 Facts and Procedural History 33
5 Standard of Review 35
6 Discussion 37
7 Recommendation 40
D Model Bench Memo with Annotations 41
Chapter 5 Writing Trial Court Documents 49
A Common Parts of a Trial Court Order 50
1 Case Caption 51
2 Introduction 52
3 Background 53
4 Legal Standard 55
5 Discussion with Legal Analysis 58
a Single-Issue Analysis 59
i Conclusion or Issue Statement 59
ii Rule and Explanation of Relevant Law 60
iii Analysis 61
b Multi-Issue Discussion Sections 63
6 Conclusion and Order 64
7 Judge's Signature and Dace 64
B Model Trial Court Order with Annotations 65
C Jury Instructions 70
1 Review the Pleadings and Outline the Claims 73
2 Compile Instructions from All Sources 73
3 Master Your Subject and Present a Neutral Approach 74
4 Supplement Where Needed 75
5 Organize the Instructions Logically 76
6 Proofread for Plain Language 79
D Model Jury Instructions with Annotations 81
Chapter 6 Writing an Appelate Opinion 85
A How to Write an Appellate Opinion 86
1 Identify the Issues 86
2 Outline and Draft Each Section 88
a Review Samples, Create a Template, Start with the Case Caption 88
b Introduction 88
c Standard of Review 91
d Background 93
e Discussion 94
i Roadmap 95
ii IRAC or CREAC Analysis of the Issues 96
f Decision 100
3 Proofread to Perfection 102
B Model Appellate Opinion with Annotations 103
Chapter 7 Writing Dissents and Concurrences 109
A Common Parts of a Dissent or Concurrence 111
1 Conclusion and Reason for Writing Separately 112
2 Rule and Explanation of the Law 115
3 Analysis with Incorporated Facts 117
a Style and Substance 117
b Incorporated Facts 121
4 Conclusion Describing Desired Outcome 121
B Finalize and Proofread 122
C Model Concurrence and Dissent with Annotations 123
Chapter 8 Judges' Writing Styles 129
A Tell a Story 130
B Keep It Short 133
C Avoidjargon 137
D Show with Examples 139
E Start with a Bang 141
F Persuade with Power 143
Chapter 9 Grammar, Punctuation, and Writing Style Checkup 147
A Basic Grammar, Punctuation, and Style Checkup 148
1 Sentences-Fragments, Subject-Verb Agreement, and Run-Ons 148
a Fragments 148
b Subject-Verb Agreement 149
c Run-Ons 150
2 Commas 152
a Comma Rule No. 1: Use Commas to Set Off Nonrestrictive Clauses 153
b Comma Rule No. 2: Use the Serial Comma 154
c Comma Rule No. 3: Use Commas After the Day and Year in Dates 154
d Comma Rule No. 4: Use Commas to Separate Elements in Locations 155
e Comma Rule No. 5: Use Commas Around Clauses, Phrases, and Conjunctive Adverbs tor Clarity 155
3 Semicolons 156
a Semicolon Rule: Use a Semicolon to Separate Complex Items in a List 156
4 Colons 156
a Colon Rule: Place a Colon Only After a Complete Clause 157
5 Modifiers 157
a Modifier Rule No. 1: Avoid Unclear Placement of Modifiers 158
b Modifier Rule No. 2: Avoid Dangling Modifiers 158
6 Pronouns 159
a Pronoun Rule No. 1: Make Pronouns and Antecedents Match 159
b Pronoun Rule No. 2: "It's" Is a Contraction, Not a Possessive 160
c Pronoun Rule No. 3: Pronouns Should Refer to an Existing Antecedent 160
d Pronoun Rule No. 4: "Who" Is for Subjects; "Whom" Is for Objects 161
7 Apostrophes 161
a Apostrophe Rule No. 1: For Singular Nouns, Add an Apostrophe and an "s" 161
b Apostrophe Rule No. 2: For Plural Nouns, Add Just the Apostrophe 162
c Apostrophe Rule No. 3: For Singular Nouns Finding in "s," Follow Rule 1 or 2 Consistently 162
d Apostrophe Rule No. 4: Use Contractions Conversationally and Sparingly 163
8 Hyphens 164
a Hyphen Rule No. 1: Hyphenate Phrases with Multiple Adjectives 164
b Hyphen Rule No. 2: Hyphenate When Ambiguity Could Result 164
c Hyphen Rule No. 3: No Hyphen Follows Words Ending in "-ly" 165
B Advanced Grammar Principles 165
1 Active and Passive Voice 165
2 Parallelism 166
3 Quotations 168
a Quotations Rule No. 1: Use Double Quotation Marks for Quotes 169
b Quotations Rule No. 2: Commas and Periods Always Go Inside Quotation Marks 169
c Quotations Rule No. 3: Use Brackets, an Ellipsis, or Both to Show a Change to a Quote 170
d Quotations Rule No. 4: For Essential, Longer Quotes, Indent the Quote as a Text Block 170
4 Em Dashes and Parentheses 171
C Good Books on Good Writing 173
Chapter 10 Research and Citation Checkup 175
A Jurisdiction: The Reach and Structure of American Courts 176
B Creating a Research Plan 181
1 Develop and Refine Your Research Questions 181
2 Start with Secondary Sources 183
3 Know How to Start: Primary Authorities 184
4 Know When to Stop: Primary Authorities 185
C Citation Checkup 187
1 Consistency Is Key 188
2 Perfecting Citation Practices 189
D Researching from Beginning to End 191
Index 193
