Presentation Transcript

1. Preparing a Casenote

   Professor Tobi Tabor Summer 2014
2. Legal Scholarship is Critical Writing “[T]he purest form of critical writing is scholarly writing—the sharing within the legal community of new ideas about the law.” 1 “[L]egalscholarship is characteristically normative (informed by a social goal) and prescriptive (recommending or disapproving a means to that goal).”2 1 Elizabeth Fajans & Mary R. Falk, Scholarly Writing for Law Students 2 (4th ed. 2011). 2 Id. at 4.
3. Good Scholarly Writing Factually Correct Logical Analysis well and sufficiently reasoned and divided into mutually exclusive, yet related sections Clear and readable Somewhat formal style Not pompous or colloquial
4. Steps Involved¹Tasks Required ² Inspiration Research-preliminary Research-close to complete Drafting More research-fill gaps Revising Polishing ¹Fajans & Falk at 21. Outline/rough draft Complete draft Good draft Final product  Mary Barnard Ray & Barbara J. Cox, Beyond the Basics 406-20 (2d ed. 2003). You may not write all these stages, but you will need to address all tasks.
5. Steps &Tasks Integrated Inspiration Research-preliminary Research-close to complete Drafting Outline/Rough Draft Complete Draft More Research Revising Good Draft Polishing Final Product
6. Step 1-Your inspiration For Competition you will be assigned a recent opinion to analyze For this casenote previously unresolved or currently evolving areas of law provide most potential You will agree or disagree with all or part of what the Court did Something worth writing about—new issue, rule no longer practical, decision makes new law on old issue Hone it down to manageable size and scope
7. Inspiration: Developing a Thesis ¹; Finding a Claim ² Original Says something not said before Comprehensive “provides sufficient background [so] any law-school-educated reader [can] understand . . . and evaluate the writer’s thesis.” “takes the reader from the known (background) to the unknown (the writer’s analysis).”³ Claim is your solution to a problem you have identified.OrDispute you have identified and rationale for why it was rightly/wrongly resolved.⁴ Topic must be narrowed to manageable proportions to formulate thesis.⁵ 1 Fajans & Falk, supra at 14. 2 Eugene Volokh, Academic Legal Writing 10 (4th ed. 2010). 3 Fajans & Falk, supra at 14. ⁴Volokh, supra note 2. ⁵Id.
8. Your Solution: Combine the Descriptive & Prescriptive ¹ In Descriptive part of claim—the world as it was/is—the most plausible explanation of facts you have discovered² Historical question A claim about a law’s effects A statement about how courts are interpreting the law In Prescriptive part of claim—what should be done—the best solution you can suggest How a law should be interpreted What new statute should be enacted How a statute or common-law rule should be changed 1Volokh, supra at 10. ² Id. at 21.
9. Your Claim You should be able to state your claim in In one sentence.¹ “Statute X does not provide adequate protection to those it was enacted to serve because ….” “This [ruling] is likely to result in the following consequences . . . , and therefore should be modified to provide . . . .” 1 Volokh, supra at 9.
10. Characteristics of Claim¹ Good Legal Scholarship should (1) make a claim that is (2) novel, (3) nonobvious, (4) useful, (5) sound, and (6) seen by the reader to be novel, nonobvious, useful, and sound. ¹Volokh, supra at 21.
11. Characteristics¹ Novel: Add something to the state of expert knowledge about the field. Nuance: 1. “[W]hat special factors—for instance, government interests or individual rights —are present in some situations covered by your claim but not in others. Could you modify your claim to consider these factors?” 2. Do your arguments in support of your claim work well in some cases but badly in others? Can you limit your claim accordingly? 3. Simple “yes” and “no” answers in legal writing often attract more writing. Can you come up with a plausible “yes” in some cases, “no” in others? Nonobvious: Claims that “just apply settled law or well-established arguments to slightly new fact patterns [] tend to look obvious.” Add a twist—more nuance: e.g., if leading precedent in the field doesn’t squarely support your claim, acknowledge and fill in support with other precedent and policy arguments ¹The concepts and descriptions of novelty, nonobviousness, utility, & soundness on this and the following slides are excerpted from Volokh at 21-35.
12. Useful Some readers should find idea professionally valuable Questions left open or created by decision: how should they be resolved? Apply to other jurisdictions (e.g., conduct violates 4th amendment; also violate state constitutions?) Include prescriptive implications Avoid language, examples, & jargon that will unnecessarily alienate readers, “anti-choice,” “gun lobby,” “fanatic.” “[I]n general, don’t weaken your core claim by picking unnecessary fights.”1 1 Volokh, supra at 28.
13. Sound “Avoid excessive mushiness” reliance on legal abstractions” e.g., “single-sex educational programs should be legal if controlled studies show them to be more effective than co-ed programs” probably more defensible than “single-sex educational programs should be legal if they are reasonable.”
14. Write-on Competition You are given specific case Read all separate opinions As you read, formulate reaction to court’s reasoning (majority, concurrence, dissent), and from there, formulate your claim/original thesis. You should read all the cases cited by the court in starting your research, and you may need to read them before you formulate your claim.
15. Where would you start? Narrow thesis/claim? 1st: Interdisciplinary/law only ¹ Then: Macro-micro Comparisons Causation Questions Research sources? Who has authority Where find sources Lines of analysis? ¹ These techniques are discussed in Fajans & Falk, supra at 20-22.
16. How to Narrow Topic¹: Bullying, Children, Adolescents, and the Roles of Schools Decide whether primarily legal or primarily interdisciplinary What are the implications of the decision for some or all of children, parents, schools, area service providers? What federal and state laws and regulations govern rights and protection of students in schools? What entities are responsible for enforcing? If children are consistently bullied, how effectively can they integrate into further education and then into the workforce? Up and down ladder of abstraction: macro focus (greatest level of generality) to micro focus (greatest detail & specificity) In what venues does court address bullying? What effect on venues not specifically included? What remedies? What is frequency and type of public school vs. private school bullying by bullies’ ages, school grade, gender? What gender and age group(s) are most susceptible to bullying, what assistance is available? ¹Fajans & Falk, supra at 20-22.
17. Bullying Make comparisons How does decision affect states’ laws? School districts’ rules? Is bullying more prevalent in the United States than in foreign jurisdictions (those consistently subject to violence vs. those generally peaceful), in certain states than in others? Are bullies more likely to succeed in the workforce (have to define “succeed”) than their victims, their acolytes, the bystanders? Determine Causation How will the court’s decision impact state and school district budgets? What is the long-term impact of bullying on the bully, the victim? Are bullies, victims, bullies’ acolytes, bystanders at higher risk than the remaining school population to physically harm themselves? Ask series of questions What acts constitute bullying? Who does the bullying: gender, age, etc.? What obligations do schools have to prevent or penalize bullying, help victims? Differences in amount of bullying in public and private schools, middle and high schools? What influence does media have? What role can pediatricians, psychologists play to prevent bullying, help victims?
18. Step 2-Preliminary Research Check to see if your original thesis has already been addressed. Has someone else looked into some aspects? List major points—roadmap for research Develop search terms No specific starting point Secondary sources Known case or statute Annotated statutes Shepardize—headnote numbers Key Cite—Key numbers legislative history
19. Research Plan What courts, governments, branches of government have authority to speak on the issues? Different places to find that authority? Build checks into your research so you don’t stop too soon Logical and orderly documentation of what you have done
20. Read critically while researching Take good notes so you don’t lose your original reactions to material. Don’t read just to summarize. Ask questions- Implications & consequences of writer’s position? Writer’s inferences & conclusions—adequately supported? Purpose of the text well-stated, justifiable?¹ Find the holes in what you’re reading, the inconsistent reasoning, conflict with precedent (will help you focus on thesis and analyze topic critically). ¹ These and critiquing techniques found in Fajans & Falk, supra at 28-30.
21. Step 3—Research can be close to complete, but is a continuous process As you write, research to fill analytical gaps, provide examples, etc. What sources might you be looking for? Statutes and regulations: U.S. & foreign Treaties, Conventions, Protocols Cases Secondary sources: academic perspective Comparisons, critiques, rationales Policies practical/discipline perspective
22. Step 4-Preparation for Writing: How Do the Materials Fit Together? Organize your materials into issues, lines of cases and commentary, pro and con If you have a good grasp of a thesis, start with an outline Try a non-linear outline if you can’t decide how concepts fit together If you’re not ready for an outline, do “freewriting”—just “dump” all the thoughts you have onto the paper—from there you can derive an outline
23. Flowers’ Paradigm: "How Writers Write” Madman Architect Carpenter Judge
24. First Complete Draft Fill in content in organizational structure Let creativity flow minimize rewriting—keep the Judge at bay—this is Madman’s opportunity to have “one more idea” Try to get most ideas down before rewriting
25. The Parts of Your paper: start writing anywhere—end with 4 parts Scholarly papers have a basic four-part structure Introduction Background Analysis Conclusion
26. Introduction Goal--persuade people to read further Introduce topic & why it’s important Describe subject of paper Give enough background to make significance of your subject obvious State your claim Provide an explicit roadmap 5-7.5% of paper
27. Background: Two parts —General Section & Specific Case Description Organization of General Section Topically re issue/strand of analysis Chronologically w/in topic Jurisdictionally w/in topic Courts Branches of government General background Origin of subject Changes during development Reasons for changes How things are now
28. Background: Specific Case Description Specific case description Issue court considered Facts as relevant to the issue Viewpoint of each member of the Court Organization of specific case section Each separate opinion Decision Reasoning
29. Background: Both Parts Have to assume law-educated reader is relatively uninformed in the area Not tedious with detail but specific as to what is necessary for topic Be comprehensive judiciously Synthesize precedents No commentary, critique
30. Analysis The most important section (1) original thoughts (2) tightly, logically, and creatively reasoned Keep reader’s interest Build to a conclusion
31. Analysis Your critique and commentary Assess development of relevant case law: how law got where it is, where it should go, why, how? Usually several strands of analysis Background & Analysis 85-90% of paper: split 40/60 up to 50/50
32. Prove your thesis Prove your prescriptive proposal both doctrinally and as a matter of policy. Be concrete. Confront contrary arguments, but focus on your own. Volokh, supra at 35-38.
33. Organization of Analysis Large-scale Divide into major issues/strands of analysis—use informative headings Subdivide--subheadings Order logically—headings & subheadings should be logical outline Small-scale Introduce and conclude on each issue Focus on your arguments Rebut major opposing arguments
34. Conclusion Restate thesis Summarize major points “[M]ay suggest related issues or ramifications, inviting the reader to further reflection.”¹ 5-7.5% of paper ¹ Fajans & Falk at 9.
35. Step 5—More Research As you write, research to fill analytical gaps, provide examples, etc. Continuous process Don’t let research prevent or interrupt writing
36. UHLC Honor Code & Plagiarism Policy A failure to review and familiarize yourself with these guidelines and how they apply to the assignment you have before turning in even a draft of a covered paper constitutes a violation of the University of Houston Law Center Honor Code, and that is so even if the paper ends up not violating this policy. In other words, there is no acceptable excuse for preparing a paper covered by this policy without having first reviewed this policy carefully and determining how it applies to the project in which you are engaged.
37. Plagiarism intent not required plagiarism is still plagiarism, even when it is inadvertent product of careless research (i.e., save those pages from which you expect to quote, note pinpoint cites)
38. Plagiarism Policy “[A] writer may not appropriate in his writing either the language or the ideas of another without giving due credit to the source of such language or ideas, except as otherwise specifically provided [in the policy].”
39. “Giving Due Credit to the Source” “What constitutes giving credit to the source of borrowed language or ideas ‘in a way that clearly indicates the nature and extent of the source’s contribution to the student’s work’ varies . . . [,]” and the Plagiarism Policy has examples.
40. What is a paraphrase? Putting another’s ideas and words into your own words Get the essence of the statements and rephrase in your own words. Not just changing a few words here and there, even if you cite the source Write paraphrase relying on your memory, without looking at the original. Then compare for content, accuracy, and mistakenly borrowed phrases.
41. How Do I Use Quotes? A quote will be part of a textual sentence or will be a block quote. Always provide an introduction that reflects significance of a block quote: Not “court held,” “commentator said” Instead, “The concurring justice criticized the policy implications of the majority position”: Minimize use of quotes, particularly block quotes. Quotes supplement text; they don’t supplant, i.e., if you take the quotes out, you still have clear, logically developed text.
42. Student Note The text and footnote excerpts on the following slides are all quoted from the following student note: Adam K. Nalley, Note, Did Student Speech Get Thrown Out with the Banner? Reading “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” Narrowly to Uphold Important Constitutional Protections for Students, 46 Hous. L. Rev. 615 (2009).
43. Quotes: in a sentence (49 or fewer words)-Rule 5 Under the standard put forth by the Court, a school’s control extends over student expression in the context of any activity that, “students, parents, and members of the public might reasonably perceive to bear the imprimatur of the school."[Nally, footnote omitted]
44. Quotes: block (50 or more words)-Rule 5, Nally FN 105.Maring, supra note 72, at 688-89. See generally Charles C. Haynes, et al., The First Amendment in Schools 59.65 (2003) (identifying and explaining the “three tests” developed by the Supreme Court from the landmark student speech cases: Tinker, Fraser, and Hazelwood). Justice Alito, while sitting on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, provided a good summary of the types of speech these cases allow schools to prohibit: To summarize: Under Fraser, a school may categorically prohibit lewd, vulgar or profane language. Under Hazelwood, a school may regulate school sponsored speech (that is, speech that a reasonable observer would view as the school's own speech) on the basis of any legitimate pedagogical concern. Speech falling outside of these categories is subject to Tinker's general rule: it may be regulated only if it would substantially disrupt school operations or interfere with the right of others. Saxe v. State Coll. Area Sch. Dist., 240 F.3d 200, 214 (3d Cir. 2001).
45. Footnotes have three functions: provide authority for assertions attribute borrowed ideas & words to a source Provide discursive commentary to supplement text
46. Authority Footnotes --the general rules substantiate every borrowed proposition in text—not your own ideas and opinions No common knowledge in legal writing background sections need fewer and more general footnotes see generally and see, e.g., use appropriate signals when necessary be sure signal choice is not misleading do not quote work out of context use parenthetical explanations to make clear the relevance of citations
47. Authority Footnotes, Nally Paramount and MTV films are currently producing a film about “a young man standing up for his rights” after he was suspended for flying a fourteen-foot banner the phrase “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” outside his school. [FN 1] The movie is based on the real life story of Joseph Frederick, who made national headlines when he challenged his suspension all the way to the Supreme Court. [FN 2] It is the story of a high school senior who, in an effort to show he would not “bow down in submission before an authority,” created a banner with a large piece of paper, three dollars worth of duct tape, and a peculiar phrase that would become the subject of a Supreme Court case. [footnote omitted]. FN 1Jeff Giles, Paramount, MTV Doing Bong Hits 4 Jesus, Rotten Tomatoes, Oct. 22, 2007, http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jesus_loves_me_lets_sing_about_doing_your_best_in_school/news/1682499/.The film’s producers compare it to the classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Id. FN 2Id.; see, e.g., Linda Greenhouse, Court Hears Whether a Drug Statement is protected Free Speech for Students, N.Y. Times, Mar. 20, 2007, at A16 (describing the interactions between the attorneys and the Supreme Court Justices during oral arguments).
48. Explanatory Parentheticals-R. 1.5 Phrases not quoting authority, one of three formats: Present participial phrase: (concluding the evidence was insufficient) Short, non-quoted statement appropriate in context: (health-related water quality) Quoted sentence: (“We are a legalized culture.”)
49. Attribution Footnotes --the general rules footnote for borrowed language, facts or ideas 7 consecutive words – use quotation marks if distinctive language, term of art – use quotation marks 50 or more words – follow block quote rules footnote citing or quoting source “A” thatin turn quotes or cites “B” Only one level of “quoting” or “citing” is necessary, unless second level particularly relevant. Rule 10.6.2 reference source and significance as you introduce a quote The Shasta concurrence criticized the majority’s construction of the phrase as veering too far afield from established law : “ . . . .”
50. Attribution Footnote, Nally Tinker, therefore, provides a strong safeguard under the First Amendment for student speech in a school setting. [FN 81] Under Tinker, a student’s expressive activity or speech is protected as a First Amendment right if it does not materially disrupt a school activity, but school authorities maintain “broad authority to restore order” when the student’s speech or expressive conduct does result in a material and substantial disruption. [footnote omitted]. FN 81See Chemerinsky, supra note 73, at 532 (declaring that the protection of student speech under the First Amendment is a core theme of the majority opinion); see also Cambron-McCabe et al., supra note 76, at 118 (noting that Tinker allows students to express opinions on controversial issues in the classroom, cafeteria, playing field, or any other place).
51. Textual Footnotes supplement your text clarify or qualify an textual assertion raise potential criticisms or complications explain/distinguish contrary theory relate anecdotes pertinent to text Use to enrich the theme of your argument
52. Textual Footnotes, Nally Paramount and MTV films are currently producing a film about “a young man standing up for his rights” after he was suspended for flying a fourteen-foot banner the phrase “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” outside his school. [FN 1] [FN 1] Jeff Giles, Paramount, MTV Doing Bong Hits 4 Jesus, Rotten Tomatoes, Oct. 22, 2007, http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jesus_loves_me_lets_sing_about_doing_your_best_in_school/news/1682499/.The film’s producers compare it to the classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Id.
53. Textual Footnote, Nally 2. Justice Thomas’s Concurrence: Students Have No Free Speech Rights. [FN 43] Justice Thomas joined the majority in deciding that a public school may prohibit speech that advocates illegal drug use. [footnote omitted] FN 43. A full analysis of Justice Thomas's concurring opinion is beyond the scope of this Note. His opinion alone is worth an entire article. For example, did the Founders truly intend for the government to compel children to attend a government school and then afford those children no right to disagree with government policy in a nondisruptive manner? See id. at 2630 (Thomas, J., concurring) (opining that, as originally understood, the First Amendment does not extend to student speech in public schools). Did Justice Thomas manipulate originalism to reach a desired political result that children should be seen and not heard? See id. at 2631 (“[I]n the earliest public schools, teachers taught, and students listened.”). How does this opinion reflect Justice Thomas's First Amendment jurisprudence? [additional citations omitted].
54. Textual Footnotes The majority . . . also held that the banner could be reasonably interpreted as promoting illegal drug use. [FN 107] [FN 107]. Morse, 127 S. Ct. at 2624-25; see also supra Part II.C.1 (discussing potential meanings on the banner). It is worth noting that the Court could have dismissed the school’s appeal if it found the meaning of the sign impossible to determine. See Brief of the Liberty Legal Institute as Amicus Curiae in Support of Respondent at 3-5, Morse, 127 S. Ct. 2618 (No. 06-278) [hereinafter Brief of the Liberty Legal Institute]. The sign, instead of being interpreted as promoting illegal drug use, could have been interpreted in a variety of constitutionally protected manners—for example, it could plausibly have been construed as “anti-religious” and thus “clearly protected.” Id. at 3. . . . See infra Part III.C (discussing the impact of the Court’s holding in Morse on student speech rights). Adam K. Nalley, Did Student Speech Get Thrown Out with the Banner? Reading “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” Narrowly to Uphold Important Constitutional Protections for Students, 46 Hous. L. Rev. 615, 632-33 & n.107 (2009).
55. Citation Placement in Footnotes Citation Sentences If the unlicensed individual answers difficult or doubtful legal questions, she has committed the unlawful practice of law.¹ ¹Gardner v. Conway, 48 N.W.2d 788, 796 (Minn. 1951). Citation Clauses The courts have suggested that the drafting of a testamentary will by a nonlawyer is the unauthorized practice of law,Peterson v. Hovland, 42 N.W.2d 59, 63 (Minn. 1950), as is the preparation of complicated tax returns,Gardner v. Conway, 48 N.W.2d 788, 796 (Minn. 1951).
56. What Requires Citation? Quoting, paraphrasing, or otherwise using another's words or ideas--must credit the source in a way that clearly indicates the nature and extent of the original source's contribution to your article
57. Proper Citation Form The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (19th Edition) Locate the Pertinent Rules Use Quick Reference Pages inside front & back covers) Use the Index Use the Table of Contents Read the Main Rules Covering Your Source: switch to white pages Consult Applicable Tables
58. Different Parts of a Citation Typeface: main text, footnote text, and footnote citation Abbreviations Source material: case, book, statute, periodical Date Page: beginning and pinpoint Court/author
59. Typeface & Abbreviations: Case names in textual sentence & citations In main text: In Southern Pacific Co. v. Jensen,¹ Justice McReynolds stressed the value of uniform laws. ¹244 U.S. 205 (1917). In footnote text: . In Southern Pacific Co. v. Jensen, 244 U.S. 205 (1917), Justice McReynolds stressed the value of uniform laws. One of the values stressed by the Supreme Court is uniform application of the law to persons similarly situated.¹ ¹ See, e.g., S. Pac. Co. v. Jensen, 244 U.S. 205 (1917). Textual Sentences Citations
60. Typeface & Abbreviations: Statutes Rule 12.3: Current Official & Unofficial Codes Large & small caps Table 1: Abbreviations for federal and state codes Which code to cite for each state
61. Typeface & Abbreviations: Books Rule 15.1: Author large & small caps Rule 15.3: Title no abbreviations large & small caps Rule 8(a):Capitalization in Titles
62. Typeface & Abbreviations: Periodicals Rule 16.1: Author Ordinary roman Rule 16.2: Title of article Ordinary roman No abbreviations Italics Rule 16.3: consecutively paginated Rule 16.4: nonconsecutively paginated Tables T.10 & T.13: Abbreviations Periodical Title Large & small caps
63. Internet, Electronic media, other nonprint resources: Rule 18 Rule 18.2: cite to print source when available unless there is available a digital copy that is authenticated, official, or exact copy of printed source Rule 18.2.1: (a)sources that can be cited as if to original print source: authenticated, official, exact copies; (b) when URL should be appended; (c) sources using “available at.” Rule 18.2.2: direct citations to internet sources
64. Cases Rule 18.3.1: Cases-unreported but available on widely used database Include case name, docket number, database identifier, court name, full date, unique database identifier Gibbs v. Frank, No. 02-3924, 2004 U.S. App. LEXIS 21357, at *18 (3d Cir. Oct. 14, 2004).¹ Shelton v. City of Manhattan Beach, No. B171606, 2004 WL 2163741, at *1 (Cal. Ct. App. Sept. 28, 2004).² ¹ This citation is in a footnote. If it were in a textual sentence, the case name would be italicized. ² This citation is in a footnote. If it were in a textual sentence, the case name would be italicized.
65. Constitutions and Statutes Rules 11 and 12 for print sources Rule 18.3.2 After citation through section number, give parenthetically Name of database Currency of database (rather than year in 12.3.2) Publisher, editor, or compiler of database (unless state or federal officials)
66. Short Forms General: Rule 4 Cases: Rule 10.9 Statutes: Rule 12.10 Books: Rule 15.10 Periodicals: 16.9 Electronic: Rule 18.8
67. Particularly Helpful Tables Table 6: Abbreviations for Case Names in citations For case names in textual sentences—main text or footnote text–Rule 10.2.1 (c) & Rule 6.1 (b) Table 7: Court names Table 10: Geographical Locations Table 13: Periodicals
68. Internal Cross References Rule 3.5 “supra” and “infra” See supra notes 44-47 and accompanying text. See infra pp. 55-61. Supra also used for other sources. Rule 4.2