Illinois has adopted public-domain citation for all cases filed on or after July 1, 2011. The Illinois Supreme Court has amended its Rule 6, which now also requires pinpoint citation to an assigned paragraph number. Your memorandum or brief may contain a citation to West’s North Eastern Reporter or Illinois…
Good writing has a lot in common with pleasing music. That’s so for appellate briefs as much as novels. Good narration and argument stays with the reader, and makes the reader want more, just like a toe-tapping melody. Bret Rappaport says your mind’s ear hears what you read. How do…
Changes to the official method of case citation in Illinois go into effect next month. The Illinois Supreme Court Rules will require the court docket number to be cited, and does away with citation to an official printed reporter. Official Illinois supreme court and appellate court opinions will be on…
We continue with Part 2 of author and legal-writing expert Ross Guberman’s insights into drafting appellate briefs. In case you missed it, here’s Part 1. And here is a link to my review of Ross’s book, Point Made: How to Write Like the Nation’s Top Advocates. What is the role…
Ross Guberman is the author of Point Made: How to Write Like the Nation’s Top Advocates. Go here to read illinoisappellatelawyerblog’s review of Ross’s book. We liked it so much, illinoisappellatelawyerblog asked Ross to answer a few questions about appellate brief writing. Here is Part 1 of that Q&A. Is…
The Illinois Supreme Court rules require appellant’s merits brief to have an introductory paragraph. The introduction normally is described as the “Nature of the Action.” I often see appellant merits briefs that have long and argumentative “Nature of the Action” sections. The Second District Illinois Appellate Court recently struck one…
Charles Gaston sued the City of Danville, Illinois for the wrongful death of his son. Charles appealed after the trial court entered summary judgment in favor of the city. The record citations in the fact section of the city’s appellate brief were placed at the end of each paragraph, rather…
In Crull v. Sriratana, the Illinois Fourth District Appellate Court serves a sobering reminder that all arguments must be supported by record citations and legal authority. In Crull, a medical malpractice case, the appellate court struck plaintiff’s reply brief for lack of appropriate citations. Rejecting plaintiff’s Joycian stream of consciousness…
I am formulating plans for a new online venture that will require writers who have an understanding or interest in the judicial process. The individuals I am seeking should have competent reporting skills and be terrific, entertaining writers. This enterprise will begin its efforts in Chicago, so your proximity to…
In this tax dispute, the bank’s brief in the court of appeals contained a 4½-page “Nature of the Case” section. That was “excessive,” according to the Second District Illinois Appellate Court. But the bank’s excessiveness did not interfere with review of the case, so the court declined to strike that…