Point taken : how to write like the world's best judges / Ross Guberman.
2015
KF251 .G834 2015 (Map It)
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Details
Author
Title
Point taken : how to write like the world's best judges / Ross Guberman.
Published
Oxford ; New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2015]
Call Number
KF251 .G834 2015
ISBN
9780190268589 (pbk. ; alk. paper)
0190268581 (pbk. ; alk. paper)
0190268581 (pbk. ; alk. paper)
Description
xxvi, 348 pages ; 21 cm
System Control No.
(OCoLC)902854260
Summary
"In Point Taken, Ross Guberman delves into the work of the best judicial opinion-writers and offers a step-by-step method based on practical and provocative examples. Featuring numerous cases and opinions from 34 esteemed judges - from Learned Hand to Antonin Scalia - Point Taken, explores what it takes to turn "great judicial writing" into "great writing". Guberman provides a system for crafting effective and efficient openings to set the stage, covering the pros and cons of whether to resolve legal issues up front and whether to sacrifice taut syllogistic openings in the name of richness and nuance. Guberman offers strategies for pruning clutter, adding background, emphasizing key points, adopting a narrative voice, and guiding the reader through visual cues. The structure and flow of the legal analysis is targeted through a host of techniques for organizing the discussion at the macro level, using headings, marshaling authorities, including or avoiding footnotes, and finessing transitions. Guberman shares his style "Must Haves", a bounty of edits at the word and sentence level that add punch and interest, and that make opinions more vivid, varied, confident, and enjoyable. He also outlines his style "Nice to Haves", metaphors, similes, examples, analogies, allusions, and rhetorical figures. Finally, he addresses the thorny problem of dissents, extracting the best practices for dissents based on facts, doctrine, or policy. The appendix provides a helpful checklist of practice pointers along with biographies of the 34 featured judges."--Publisher's website.
Bibliography, etc. Note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 331-333) and index.
Record Appears in
Table of Contents
Introduction
xxi
pt. ONE
Set the Stage: The Opening
1
Teaser Opener: Succinct and Unresolved
3
Jed Rakoff, Garcia v. Bloomberg
4
Lady Hale, Dunhill v. Burgin
5
Antonin Scalia, Smith v. United States
6
Michael Ponsor, Thomas v. Consolidated Rail Corp.
7
Roger Traynor, Drennan v. Star Paving Co.
8
Lord Denning, Cummings v. Granger
8
Alex Kozinski, Flowers v. Carville
9
John Roberts, Blueford v. Arkansas
9
Teaser Practice Pointers
11
Trailer Opener: Detailed and Unresolved
12
Richard Posner, Cecaj v. Gonzalez
12
Alex Kozinski, Mattel v. MCA Records
15
Michael Musmanno, Schwartz v. Warwick-Phila Corp.
17
Michael Kirby, Green v. the Queen, dissenting
18
D.P. Marshall, Little Rock School Dist. v. North Little Rock School Dist.
19
Learned Hand, Cheney Bros. v. Doris Silk Corp.
20
Diane Wood, JCW Investments v. Novelty
21
Trailer Practice Pointers
23
Sound: Bite Opener: Succinct and Resolved
24
Patricia Wald, Hubbard v. EPA
24
Marsha Berzon, Reed v. Massanari
25
Benjamin Goldgar, In re Earley
25
Elena Kagan, Florida v. Harris
26
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, United States v. Virginia
27
Shira Scheindlin, New York Magazine v. Metropolitan Transit Authority
28
Sound Bite Practice Pointers
29
Op-Ed Opener: Detailed and Resolved
30
Beverly McLachlin, Seaboyer v. H.M. the Queen
30
John Roberts, Attorney General's Office v. Osborne
32
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Astrue v. Capato
33
Marsha Berzon, United States v. Trimble
34
Benjamin Goldgar, In Re Brent
35
Michael Ponsor, United States v. Watts
37
Op-Ed Practice Pointers
39
pt. TWO
The Tale: The Facts
41
Robert Megarry, In re Vandervell's Trusts (No 2)
42
Lord Denning, In re Vandervell's Trusts (No 2)
43
The Signal and the Noise: Cut Clutter
44
Benjamin Cardozo, Palsgraf v. Long Island Rail Road
44
Patricia Wald, United States v. Morris
45
Benjamin Goldgar, In re Brent
48
Jan Paulsson, Pantechniki S.A. Contractors & Engineers (Greece) v. Republic of Albania
48
Richard Posner, University of Notre Dame v. Sebelius
49
Roger Traynor, Drennan v. Star Paving Co.
50
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Baltimore & Ohio R.R. v. Goodman
51
Patricia Wald, Hubbard v. EPA
52
Michael Ponsor, United States v. Binette
52
Brett Kavanaugh, Belize Social Development Ltd. v. Government of Belize, dissenting
54
Edward Carnes, Ash v. Tyson
54
Alex Kozinski, Mattel, Inc. v. MCA Records, Inc.
55
D.P. Marshall, Jr., Little Rock School Dist. v. North Little Rock School Dist.
56
Big Picture: Add Background
57
Shine a Light: Emphasize Key Facts
59
Michael McHugh, Green v. The Queen
61
Michael Kirby, Green v. The Queen, dissenting
62
Do You See What I See: Adopt a Narrative Voice
67
Diane Wood, JCW Investments v. Novelty, Inc.
67
Richard Posner (sitting by designation), Apple v. Motorola
68
Lord Denning, Cummings v. Granger
69
Clean-Up: Enhance Visual Appeal
73
Frank Easterbrook, FTC v. QT, Inc.
73
Benjamin Goldgar, In Re Brent
74
Michael Ponsor, Angiodynamics, Inc. v. Biolitec, Inc.
76
Michael Kirby, Green v. The Queen
76
Practice Pointers for Fact Statements
77
pt. THREE
The Meat: The Legal Analysis
79
Overview: The Skeleton
81
Overview: In the Flesh
83
Example: Snyder v. Phelps
83
John Roberts, Snyder v. Phelps (Section II)
84
With You in Spirit: Paragraphs as Dialogues
97
Shira Scheindlin, United States v. Awadallah
99
Beverly McLachlin, Schmeiser v. Monsanto
101
Marsha Berzon, Minasyan v. Mukasey
102
Michael Ponsor, United States v. Watts
105
Frank Easterbrook, Matter of Sinclair
106
Antonin Scalia, Scott v. Harris
108
Order out of Chaos: Internal Organizational Devices
108
A.
Headings
108
Shira Scheindlin, New York Magazine v. Metropolitan Transit Authority
109
Beverly McLachlin, Schmeiser v. Monsanto Canada Inc.
110
Lord Sumption, Cox v. Ergo Versicherung AG
111
B.
"Umbrella" Introductions
111
Benjamin Goldgar, In re Earley
111
Beverly McLachlin, Seaboyer v. The Queen
112
Roger Traynor, Drennan v. Star Paving Co.
113
C.
Bulleted and Numbered Lists
114
Antonin Scalia, Scott v. Harris
114
D.P. Marshall, Little Rock School Dist. v. North Little Rock School Dist.
116
Benjamin Goldgar, In Re Brent
117
Patrick Schiltz, Shiraz Hookah, LLC v. City of Minneapolis
118
Lord Sumption, Prest v. Petrodel Resources Ltd.
119
O. Rogeriee Thompson, United States v. Seng Tan
120
Me, Too: Analogizing
121
Jed Rakoff, Garcia v. Bloomberg
121
Benjamin Goldgar, In re Brent
122
D.P. Marshall, Tucker v. Southwestern Energy Co.
123
Jed Rakoff, 23--34 94th St. Grocery v. NY. City Bd.
123
Patrick Schiltz, Shiraz Hookah, LLC v. City of Minneapolis
124
Patrick Schiltz, Newton v. Walker
125
Not Here, Not Now: Distinguishing
127
Patricia Wald, Hubbard v. EPA
127
Alex Kozinski, Mattel v. MCA Records
131
Shira Scheindlin, New York Magazine v. Metropolitan Transit Authority
132
Richard Posner, Indiana Harbor Belt R.R. v. American Cyanamid Co.
133
Learned Hand, Cheney Bros. v. Doris Silk Corp.
135
As an Aside: Parentheticals
136
Michael Ponsor, Gatti v. Nat'l Union Fire Ins.
136
Patricia Wald, Steffan v. Perry, dissenting
137
Shira Scheindlin, Clark v. Perez
137
John Roberts, Messerschmidt v. Millender
138
Michael Kirby, Green v. The Queen, dissenting
139
Diane Wood, Tarpley v. Allen County, Indiana
140
Lead 'Em On: Quoting without Tears
140
Frank Easterbrook, In re Sinclair
142
Alex Kozinski, Mattel v. MCA Records
143
Michael Kirby, Green v. The Queen, dissenting
144
Beverly McLachlin, R. v. Keegstra, dissenting
144
Antonin Scalia, Scott v. Harris
145
John Paul Stevens, Scott v. Harris, dissenting
146
Troubled Waters: The Footnoters' Dilemma
147
Antonin Scalia, Sykes v. United States, dissenting
148
Patricia Wald, Steffan v. Perry, dissenting
149
Michael Ponsor, United States v. Watts
150
Patrick Schiltz, Newton v. Walker
151
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, United States v. Virginia
152
Practice Pointers for the Analysis
153
pt. FOUR
The Words: Style Must-Haves
157
Sentence-Level Strategies
163
A.
What a Breeze: Direct, Natural, "Impure" Diction
163
Elena Kagan, Arizona Free Enterprise Club v. Bennett, dissenting
165
Elena Kagan, Kloeckner v. Solis
166
Elena Kagan, Scialabba v. Cuellar de Osorio
166
Lord Denning, Thornton v. Shoe Lane Parking
167
Richard Posner, United States v. Gutman
167
Frank Easterbrook, In Re Sinclair
168
John Roberts, Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic & Inst. Rights
168
John Roberts, FCC v. AT&T
169
John Roberts, Rancho Viejo v Norton, dissenting from a denial of en banc rehearing
170
Benjamin Goldgar, In Re Brent
171
O. Rogeriee Thompson, United States v. Seng Tan
172
B.
The Starting Gate: Short Sentence Openers
174
Edward Carnes, Hamilton v. Southland Christian School
174
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Abrams v. United States, dissenting
174
Beverly McLachlin, Seaboyer v. H.M. The Queen
176
John Roberts, Already LLC v. Nike, Inc.
176
O. Rogeriee Thompson, United States v. Seng Tan
177
Benjamin Goldgar, In re Earley
177
D. P. Marshall, Little Rock School Dist. v. North Little Rock School Dist.
177
Lord Sumption, Prest v. Petrodel
178
Patrick Schiltz, Newton v. Walker
178
Lord Hoffmann, A(FC) and others (FC) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department, dissenting
178
Elena Kagan, Florida v. Harris
179
C.
Size Matters: The Pithy Sentence
179
Frank Easterbrook, United States v. Dumont
181
Edward Carnes, Southland Christian School v. Hamilton
181
Lord Denning, Thornton v. Shoe Lane Parking
182
Lady Hale, Dunhill v. Burgin
182
Lord Sumption, Prest v. Petrodel
183
D. P. Marshall, Little Rock School Dist. v. North Little Rock School Dist.
183
Elena Kagan, Florida v. Harris
184
John Roberts, Attorney General's Office v. Osborne
184
D. P. Marshall, Tucker v. Southwestern Energy Co.
185
D.
Talk to Me: Variety in Sentence Form
185
D.P. Marshall, Tucker v. Southwestern Energy Co.
186
Lord Hoffmann, A(FC) and others (FC) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department, dissenting
186
Beverly McLachlin, Seaboyer v. H.M. The Queen
186
Richard Posner, Cecaj v. Gonzalez
187
Antonin Scalia, Scott v. Harris
187
Alex Kozinski, Mattel v. MCA Records
187
John Roberts, Attorney General's Office v. Osborne
188
E.
Parallel Lives: Parallel Constructions
188
Patrick Schiltz, Newton v. Walker
190
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Abrams v. United States
190
Lord Hoffmann, A(FC) and others (FC) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department, dissenting
190
Frank Easterbrook, In re Sinclair
191
Oliver Wendell Homes Jr., United States v. Schwimmer
191
Louis Brandeis, Whitney v. California, concurring
192
Robert Jackson, Zorach v. Clauson, dissenting
192
Frank Easterbrook, In re Sinclair
193
Lady Hale, Dunhill v. Burgin
193
Learned Hand, NLRB v. Federbush Co.
193
Lord Sumption, Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. v. E.N.E. Kos 1 Ltd.
194
Benjamin Goldgar, In re Brent
194
Antonin Scalia, Scott v. Harris
195
Michael Musmanno, Schwartz v. Warwick-Phila Corp.
196
Word-Level Strategies
196
A.
Lean and Mean: Words and Phrases to Avoid
197
Interlude: 16 Key Edits
197
Edward Carnes, Ash v. Tyson
197
Lord Denning, Cummings v. Granger
198
Michael Kirby, Wurridjal v. Commonwealth of Australia
198
Benjamin Goldgar, In re Earley
198
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Astrue v. Capato
199
Frank Easterbrook, In re Sinclair
199
John Roberts, Snyder v. Phelps
199
Patrick Schiltz, Newton v. Walker
200
Benjamin Goldgar, In re Earley
200
Beverly McLachlin, Seaboyer v. H.M. the Queen
200
Lord Hoffmann, A(FC) and others (FC) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department, dissenting
200
Edward Carnes, Hamilton v. Southland Christian School
201
Shira Scheindlin, New York Magazine v. Metropolitan Transit Authority
201
Benjamin Goldgar, In re Brent
201
Lord Denning, Cummings v. Granger
202
Benjamin Goldgar, In re Brent
202
Lord Denning, Lloyds Bank Ltd. v. Bundy
202
Lady Hale, Dunhill v. Burgin
202
B.
Zingers: Evocative Verbs
203
John Roberts, Attorney General's Office v. Osborne
203
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., McFarland v. American Sugar Refining Co.
204
Robert Jackson, Zorach v. Clauson, dissenting
204
Lord Denning, Lazarus Estates Ltd. v. Beasley
204
Diane Wood, JCW Investments, Inc. v. Novelty, Inc.
205
Alex Kozinski, United States v. Alvarez, concurring
205
Antonin Scalia, Scott v. Harris
206
John Roberts, Nike v. Already LLC
206
Robert Jackson, Zorach v. Clauson, dissenting
207
John Paul Stevens, Attorney General's Office v. Osborne, dissenting
207
O. Rogeriee Thompson, United States v. Seng Tan
207
Frank Easterbrook, In re Sinclair
208
John Roberts, League of United Latin Am. Citizens v. Perry, dissenting
208
Beverly McLachlin, Seaboyer v. The Queen
208
Interlude: 55 Zinger Verbs
209
C.
A Dash of Style: The Dash
210
John Paul Stevens, Attorney General's Office v. Osborne, dissenting
210
Patrick Schiltz, Newton v. Walker
210
Frank Easterbrook, In re Sinclair
211
Beverly McLachlin, Seaboyer v. H.M. The Queen
211
Benjamin Goldgar, In re Earley
211
Alex Kozinski, United States v. Alvarez, concurring
212
Antonin Scalia, Romer v. Evans, dissenting
212
Frank Easterbrook, United States v. Bradley
212
Louis Brandeis, Olmstead v. United States, dissenting
212
Lord Denning, Thornton v. Shoe Lane Parking
213
Interlude: the Hyphen
213
O. Rogeriee Thompson, United States v. Seng Tan
213
Patrick Schiltz, Newton v. Walker
213
Lord Sumption, Prest v. Petrodel
214
D. P. Marshall, Cunningham v. Loma Systems
214
Antonin Scalia, Scott v. Harris
214
Antonin Scalia, Stenberg v. Carhart, dissenting
215
D.
Good Bedfellows: The Semicolon
215
Frank Easterbrook, FTC v. QT, Inc.
215
John Paul Stevens, Attorney General's Office v. Osborne, dissenting
216
Patrick Schiltz, Newton v. Walker
216
Learned Hand, Cheney Bros. v. Doris Silk Corp.
216
Michael Kirby, Green v. The Queen, dissenting
217
E.
Drum Roll: The Colon
218
Beverley McLachlin, Schmeiser v. Monsanto
218
Lord Denning, Thornton v. Shoe Lane Parking
218
Alex Kozinski, Mattel v. MCA Records
218
Antonin Scalia, Romer v. Evans, dissenting
219
Jan Paulsson, Pantechniki v. Albania
219
F.
Take Me by the Hand: Seamless Transitions
219
Richard Posner, Cecaj v. Gonzalez
221
Patricia Wald, Hubbard v. EPA
221
Lady Hale, Dunhill v. Burgin
222
Patrick Schiltz, Shiraz Hookah LLC v. City of Minneapolis
223
Benjamin Goldgar, In re Brent
224
Interlude: 135 Transition Words and Phrases
225
G.
Bridge the Gap: Linked Paragraphs
228
Beverly McLachlin, Seaboyer v. H.M. the Queen
228
John Paul Stevens, Attorney General's Office v. Osborne, dissenting
229
D. P. Marshall, Tucker v. Southwestern Energy Co.
229
John Roberts, Attorney General's Office v. Osborne
230
Benjamin Goldgar, In re Brent
230
O. Rogeriee Thompson, United States v. Seng Tan
231
Lord Sumption, Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. v. E.N.E. Kos 1 Ltd.
232
Practice Pointers for Style Must-Haves
233
Sentence Strategies
233
Word Strategies
233
pt. FIVE
The Words: "Nice-to-Haves" in Style
235
It Is What It Is: Metaphors
237
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., New York Trust Co. v. Eisner
238
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Towne v. Eisner
238
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Rock Island A. & L. R. Co. v. United States
238
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Bain Peanut Co. v. Pinson
238
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., United States v. Abrams, dissenting
239
Robert Jackson, West Virginia State Bd. of Education v. Barnette
239
Louis Brandeis, New State Ice Co. v Liebmann, dissenting
240
John Roberts, Virginia Office for Protection & Advocacy v. Stewart, dissenting
240
Antonin Scalia, Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, concurring
241
Antonin Scalia, Lee v. Weisman, dissenting
241
Learned Hand, Harrison v. United States
242
Learned Hand, NLRB v. Federbush Co.
242
As If: Similes
243
Richard Posner, Singletary v. Continental Illinois Nat'l Bank & Trust Co.
243
Robert Jackson, Edwards v. California
243
Robert Jackson, Korematsu v. United States, dissenting
244
Antonin Scalia, Lamb's Chapel v. Center Moriches Union Free School District, concurring
244
Brett Kavanaugh, Belize Social Development Ltd. v. Government of Belize, dissenting
245
Richard Posner, Mayo v. Lane
245
John Roberts, Brigham City v. Stuart
246
That Reminds Me: Examples and Analogies
247
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Schenck v. United States
247
Frank Easterbrook, Doe v. Elmbrook School Dist.
247
Diane Wood, JCW Investments, Inc. v. Novelty, Inc.
248
Richard Posner, Cecaj v. Gonzalez
248
Alex Kozinski, Mattel v. MCA Records
248
Alex Kozinski, United States v. Alvarez, concurring
249
Frank Easterbrook, FTC v. QT, Inc.
251
Elena Kagan, Florida v. Jardines, concurring
252
Elena Kagan, Arizona Free Enterprise Club v. Bennett, dissenting
253
Elena Kagan, Arizona Christian School Tuition Org. v. Winn, dissenting
254
Treasure Trove: Literary and Cultural References
255
Diane Wood, Ritter v. Ross
255
Antonin Scalia, Smith v. United States
256
John Roberts, Already LLC v. Nike
256
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Lochner v. New York, dissenting
257
Lord Denning, The Siskina
257
Lord Hoffmann, A(FC) and others (FC) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department, dissenting
258
Antonin Scalia, Coy v. Iowa
258
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Shelby County v. Holder, dissenting
259
Richard Posner, Albright v. Oliver
260
Frank Easterbrook, Federal Trade Commission v. QT, Inc.
260
Antonin Scalia, National Endowment for Arts v. Finley, concurring
261
Antonin Scalia, Barnes v. Glen Theatre, Inc., concurring
261
John Roberts, Already LLC v. Nike
262
Elena Kagan, Scialabba v. Cuellar de Osorio
262
John Roberts, Sprint Comm. Co. L.P. v. APCC Servs. Inc., dissenting
262
John Roberts, Pennsylvania v. Nathan Dunlap, dissenting from denial of certiorari
263
That's Classic: Rhetorical Devices
264
John Roberts, Shelby County v. Holder
264
John Roberts, Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle
265
John Roberts, Already LLC v. Nike
265
Benjamin Cardozo, People v. Defore
265
John Roberts, Morse v. Frederick
266
Robert Jackson, Brown v. Allen, concurring
266
Robert Jackson, American Communications Associate v. Douds
266
Robert Jackson, Zorach v. Clauson, dissenting
266
Benjamin Cardozo, Berkovitz v. Arbib & Houlberg
267
Robert Jackson, Thomas v. Collins
267
Practice Pointers for Style Nice-to-Haves
268
pt. SIX
Dissents: The Road Not Traveled
269
A Sordid Tale: Wrong on the Facts
272
Robert Jackson, Chicago v. Terminiello, dissenting
273
Richard Posner, Johnson v. Phelan, dissenting
274
Antonin Scalia, Romer v. Evans, dissenting
275
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, dissenting
276
Piercing the Veil: Wrong on the Law
277
John Paul Stevens, Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, dissenting
278
Antonin Scalia, Morrison v. Olson, dissenting
279
Diane Wood, A Woman's Choice-East Side Women's Clinic v. Newman, dissenting
279
Brett Kavanaugh, In re Sealed Case, dissenting
280
Elena Kagan, Arizona Free Enterprise Club's Freedom Club PAC v. Bennett, dissenting
282
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Bush v. Gore, dissenting
283
John Roberts, Miller v. Alabama, dissenting
284
Robert Jackson, Korematsu v. United States, dissenting
286
John Paul Stevens, Citizens United v. Federal Election Campaign, dissenting
287
Elena Kagan, Arizona Christian School Tuition Org. v. Winn, dissenting
288
Get Real: Wrong on the Policy
290
A.
Anti-Elitist
290
John Stevens, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, dissenting
291
Alex Kozinski, United States v. Pineda-Moreno, dissenting from a denial of rehearing
292
Robert Jackson, Terminiello v. City of Chicago, dissenting
294
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Lochner v. New York, dissenting
295
Antonin Scalia, Lawrence v. Texas, dissenting
297
B.
Anti-Populist
298
Lord Hoffmann, A(FC) and others (FC) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department, dissenting
299
Lord Sumption, Societe Generale v. Geys, dissenting
300
Michael Kirby, Wurridjal v. Commonwealth of Australia, dissenting
301
Michael Kirby, Kartinyeri v. Commonwealth, dissenting
302
Robert Jackson, Terminiello v. City of Chicago, dissenting
303
John Paul Stevens, Attorney General's Office v. Osborne, dissenting
304
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Shelby County v. Holder, dissenting
305
Practice Pointers for Dissents
305
pt. SEVEN
Appendices
309
Biographies
310
Practice Pointers
323
Notes
331
Table of Cases
335
Index
341