Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Legal Writing Pet Peeves

Happy Law Day!

Law360 offers The Legal Writing Habit Judges Say They Can't Stand.
In recent interviews with Law360, judges and justices revealed their biggest pet peeves when it comes to legal writing. One common refrain came up again and again: The writing they see is too often overly complicated, filled with jargon, and makes use of unnecessarily long or antiquated words.
Writing clearly is always the goal and that’s extremely hard. It takes a lot of work and is ultimately more art than science.

PJ Gilbert will present light-hearted remarks at the 31st annual Half-Norwegian (on the Mother's Side) American Bar Association dinner, on May 14. Details here.

Bloomberg reports Trump Likely to Hit 100th Judicial Appointment This Week -- Trump appointments so far include 37 circuit judges and two Supreme Court justices

The latest issue of Verdict magazine has Federal Court Practice Tips (at p. 32) by H&L' s Peder Batalden, which focuses on this year's new FRAP and 9th Circuit practices:
--"The hoary term 'supersedeas' has been eradicated" and that FRCP 62 has been revamped to acknowledge security other than bonds. Also, the automatic stay of enforcement on entry of judgment is now 30 days (instead of the old 14 days).
--There are two dozen new 9th Circuit forms, including a form for extensions of time.
--Under revised 9th Cir. Rule 25-5(f), filings by ECF usually no longer need a certificate of service.

And see Justice Stevens, in New Essay, Laments Washington's Partisanship