Point Made by Guberman, Ross -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Part One: The Theme

1. Brass Tacks: Explain “who, what, when, where, why, how”

Eric Holder, In re Chiquita Banana Brendan Sullivan, Greg Craig, and Nicole Seligman, Calvin Klein Trademark Trust v. Linda Wachner Fred Bartlit, Pinpoint v. Amazon Bernie Nussbaum, IBP v. Tyson Foods

2. The Short List: Number your path to victory

A. Your list is governed by factors or rules Seth Waxman, MercExchange v. eBay B. You need to address threshold questions before addressing the merits Ted Olson, Robinson v. Bowen C. Your dispute is complex or fact-driven Maureen Mahoney, Grutter v. Bollinger Maureen Mahoney and Greg Garre, Christian Legal Society v. Martinez Larry Tribe, Gratz v. Bollinger Brendan Sullivan, United States v. Forbes D. You need to regain the offensive in response to your opponent’s arguments Kathleen Sullivan, SEC v. Siebel Systems Herbert Wachtell, NFL Enterprises v. Echostar Satellite David Boies, Weinstein v. Smokewood Entertainment

3. Why Should I Care?: Give the court a reason to want to find for you

A. The fear of misconstruing a doctrine or statute Carter Phillips, Miller-El v. Dretke Stephen Shapiro, Stoneridge Investment Partners v. Scientific Atlanta Barack Obama, Tyus v. Bosley B. The fear of creating new duties, rules, or defenses Jamie Gorelick, Carrington v. Duke University Larry Tribe, Michigan Civil Rights Initiative Committee v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration and Immigrant Rights and to Fight for Equality by Any Means Necessary Larry Lessig, Warner Bros. Entertainment v. RDR Books C. The fear of reaching an unfair result or causing harm Greg Craig, United States v. Conrad Black Bernie Nussbaum, Judith Kaye v. Sheldon Silver Paul Clement and Greg Garre, FCC v. Fox Kathleen Sullivan, FCC v. Fox Kathleen Sullivan, FCC v. Fox Ted Olson, MGM v. Grokster Paul Smith, Keepseagle v. Veneman

4. Don’t Be Fooled: Draw a line in the sand

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke Walter Dellinger, Rumsfeld v. FAIR John Roberts, Smith v. Doe Morgan Chu, Tivo v. Echostar Mary Jo White, Trump v. O’Brien Richard Wiley, In re XM-Sirius Merger Nancy Abell, Jackson v. Microsoft Roy Englert, Federal Insurance Company v. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia John Payton and the NAACP, In re Alper Holdings USA Ted Wells, Terra Firma v. Citigroup

Part Two: The Tale

Fred Bartlit, Stumpf v. Garvey 5. Panoramic Shot: Set the stage and sound your theme

Ted Wells, Terra Firma v. Citigroup Carolyn Lamm, Inversiones & Servicios, S.A. de C.V. v. Barceló Hospitality USA Joe Jamail, In re Sunbeam Securities Litigation Larry Tribe, Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action v. Granholm Andy Frey, BMW v. Gore Carter Phillips, Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church v. City of New York

6. Show, Not Tell: Let choice details speak for themselves

John Roberts, Alaska v. EPA John Payton and the NAACP, In re Alper Holdings USA Pattie Millett and Tom Goldstein, United States v. Stevens Harvey Miller, In re General Motors Eric Holder, Butler v. MBNA Steven Shapiro and the ACLU, Hudson v. Michigan

7. Once Upon a Time: Replace dates with phrases that convey a sense of time

Larry Tribe, Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action v. Granholm Eric Holder, Butler v. MBNA Greg Garre, Weber v. Infinity Broadcasting Fred Bartlit, Stumpf v. Garvey Morgan Chu, eBay v. IDT

8. Headliners: Use headings to break up your fact section and to add persuasive effect

Department of Justice, United States v. Stewart Seth Waxman, In re Winstar Communications Ted Wells, Terra Firma v. Citigroup Fred Bartlit, Stumpf v. Garvey

9. Back to Life: Center technical matter on people or entities

Seth Waxman, MercExchange v. eBay Carter Phillips, Lucent Technologies v. Gateway Interlude: Gauging your brief’s readability

10. Poker Face: Concede bad facts, but put them in context

Larry Lessig, Aguiar v. Webb Ted Olson, Citizens United v. United States Carter Phillips, Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church v. City of New York

11. End with a Bang: Leave the court with a final image or thought

Brendan Sullivan, Brendsel v. OFHEO David Boies, Weinstein v. Smokewood Entertainment

Part Three: The Meat

Using Headings Thurgood Marshall, Sweatt v. Painter 12. Russian Doll: Nest your headings and subheadings

Ted Wells, Terra Firma v. Citigroup Carolyn Lamm, Inversiones & Servicios, S.A. de C.V. v. Barceló Hospitality USA Richard Wiley, In re XM-Sirius Merger David Boies, United States v. Microsoft

13. Heads I Win, Tails You Lose: Argue in the alternative

Eric Holder, In re Chiquita Banana Walter Dellinger, Exxon v. Baker Interlude: Love “because” Miguel Estrada, Weinberger v. Aetna Health Fred Bartlit, Micron v. Rambus John Payton and the NAACP, Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center v. HUD John Payton and the NAACP, Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center v. HUD Mary Jo White, Dryer v. NFL Structuring the Sections

14. Sneak Preview: Include an umbrella paragraph before your headings and subheadings

Ted Wells, Terra Firma v. Citigroup Morgan Chu, eBay v. IDT

15. Wish I Were There: Start each paragraph by answering a question you expect the court to have

Jones v. Clinton: Original Jones v. Clinton: Revision Thurgood Marshall, Brown v. Board of Education Seth Waxman, MercExchange v. eBay Mary Jo White, Trump v. O’Brien Ted Wells, Terra Firma v. Citigroup

16. Sound Off: Start the paragraphs with numbered reasons

Ted Wells, Terra Firma v. Citigroup Greg Garre, Weber v. Infinity Broadcasting Maureen Mahoney, Arthur Andersen v. United States Analogizing

17. Long in the Tooth: Say “me too”

Greg Garre, Weber v. Infinity Broadcasting David Boies, Smith Wholesale v. Phillip Morris Brendan Sullivan, United States v. Stevens Nancy Abell, Burch v. Coca-Cola Frank Easterbrook, United States v. Crittenden

18. Peas in a Pod: Link your party with the party in the cited case

Seth Waxman, In re Winstar Communications Greg Craig, United States v. Black Herbert Wachtell, Barron v. Igolnikov Virginia Seitz, Williams v. Mohawk Frank Easterbrook, Kissinger v. Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

19. Mince Their Words: Merge pithy quoted phrases into a sentence about your own case

Ted Olson and David Boies, Perry v. Schwarzenegger Miguel Estrada, Sanders v. Madison Square Garden Fred Bartlit, Stumpf v. Garvey Steven Shapiro and the ACLU, Wilson v. Layne

20. One Up: Claim that the case you’re citing applies even more to your own dispute

Larry Tribe, Larkin v. Grendel’s Den Greg Garre, Weber v. Infinity Broadcasting Walter Dellinger, United States v. Stewart Jamie Gorelick, Carrington v. Duke University

21. Interception: Claim that a case your opponent cites helps you alone

Walter Dellinger, United States v. Stewart Stephen Susman, Sklar v. Bank of America Nancy Abell, Burch v. Coca-Cola

22. Rebound: “Re-analogize” after the other side tries to distinguish

Andy Frey, Elbit Systems v. Credit Suisse Group Virginia Seitz, Williams v. Mohawk Industries Richard Taranto, Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project Distinguishing

23. Not Here, Not Now: Lead with the key difference between your opponent’s case and your own

Mary Jo White, Trump v. O’Brien Ted Olson, MGM Studios v. Grokster Roy Englert, Federal Insurance Company v. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Eric Holder, Barham v. UBS John Quinn, Mattel v. MGA Entertainment John Roberts and Greg Garre, United States v. Chrysler Corporation Richard Taranto, Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project Richard Taranto, SKF v. United States Customs and Border Protection

24. One Fell Swoop: Distinguish a line of cases all at once

Maureen Mahoney, Toy Industry Association v. City and County of San Francisco Larry Lessig, Warner Bros. Entertainment v. RDR Books Steven Shapiro and the ACLU, Hamdi v. Rumsfeld Steven Shapiro and the ACLU, Hudson v. Michigan John Payton and Seth Waxman, Northwest Austin Utility District Number One v. Gonzales Maureen Mahoney and Greg Garre, Christian Legal Society v. Martinez

25. Not So Fast: Show that the case doesn’t apply as broadly as your opponent suggests

Carolyn Lamm, Kay Sieverding v. ABA Miguel Estrada, Sanders v. Madison Square Garden Seth Waxman, In re Winstar Communications David Boies, American Express Travel Related Services Company v. Visa Elena Kagan, DiPlacido v. Commodity Futures Trading Commission John Payton and the NAACP, Holt v. City of Dickerson Ted Olson, Robinson v. Bowen Roy Englert, Federal Insurance Company v. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

26. Authority Problems: Suggest that the case deserves little respect

Steven Shapiro and the ACLU, Wilson v. Layne Ted Wells, NAACP v. Ameriquest Mortgage Company Bob Bennett, Miller v. United States Frank Easterbrook, Kissinger v. Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Using Parentheticals Former Third Circuit Chief Judge Ruggero Aldisert

27. Ping Me: Introduce your parentheticals with parallel participles

Morgan Chu, eBay v. IDT Steven Shapiro and the ACLU, Hudson v. Michigan Ken Starr, Juneau v. Frederick Walter Dellinger, Bank of America v. Cleveland Steven Shapiro and the ACLU, Mary Berghuis v. Diapolis Smith Virginia Seitz, C.B.C. Distribution and Marketing v. MLB Advanced Media

28. Speak for Yourself: Include a single-sentence quotation

Paul Clement, Jimenez v. DaimlerChrysler Walter Dellinger, United States v. Stewart

29. Hybrid Model: Combine participles and quotations

Mary Jo White, Trump v. O’Brien Greg Craig, United States v. Henry T. Nicholas, III Kathleen Sullivan, Adidas v. Payless Introducing Block Quotations

30. Lead ’Em On: Introduce block quotations by explaining how the language supports your argument

Steven Shapiro and the ACLU, Mary Berghuis v. Diapolis Smith Walter Dellinger, Exxon v. Baker Carter Phillips and Virginia Seitz, Grutter Gratz v. Bollinger Using Footnotes Interlude: Citations in footnotes

31. Race to the Bottom: Use footnotes only in moderation to address related side points and to add support

Andy Frey, Catskill Litigation Trust v. Park Place Entertainment Steven Shapiro and the ACLU, Wilson v. Layne Mary Jo White, Trump v. O’Brien Ted Olson, California v. GM Richard Taranto, Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project

Part Four: The Words

Liven Up the Language 32. Zingers: Colorful verbs

Brendan Sullivan, Greg Craig, and Nicole Seligman, Calvin Klein Trademark Trust v. Wachner Brendan Sullivan, Greg Craig, and Nicole Seligman, Calvin Klein Trademark Trust v. Wachner Joe Jamail, In re Sunbeam Securities Litigation David Boies, In re Vitamins Antitrust Litigation Paul Smith, Gill v. Office of Personnel Management Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Craig v. Boren Walter Dellinger, Bank of America v. Cleveland Morgan Chu, Tivo v. Echostar Larry Lessig and Kathleen Sullivan, Eldred v. Ashcroft Bernie Nussbaum, Crest v. Wal-Mart Stores Roy Englert, District Attorney for the Office for the Third Judicial District v. Osborne Ken Starr and Eric Holder, McDonald v. United States John Payton and the NAACP, Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center v. HUD Bob Bennett, United States v. Miller

33. What a Breeze: Confident tone

Larry Tribe, Larkin v. Grendel’s Den Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Craig v. Boren Pattie Millett and Tom Goldstein, United States v. Stevens Larry Lessig, Warner Bros. Entertainment v. RDR Books Herbert Wachtell, NFL Enterprises v. Echostar Satellite Nancy Abell, Jackson v. Microsoft Richard Wiley, Comsat v. FCC Brendan Sullivan, Greg Craig, and Nicole Seligman, Calvin Klein v. Wachner Morgan Chu, Brunskill Associates v. Rapid Payroll

34. Manner of Speaking: Figures of speech

Joe Jamail, In re Sunbeam Securities Litigation David Boies, Renton v. Kaiser David Boies, In re Vitamins Antitrust Maureen Mahoney, Arthur Andersen v. United States Morgan Chu, Tessera v. United Test and Assembly Center Joe Jamail, In re Sunbeam Securities Litigation Joe Jamail, In re Sunbeam Securities Litigation Brendan Sullivan, Greg Craig, and Nicole Seligman, Calvin Klein Trademark Trust v. Wachner

35. That Reminds Me: Examples and analogies

John Roberts, Alaska v. EPA Barack Obama, Tyus v. Bosley Nancy Abell, Dukes v. Wal-Mart Morgan Chu, Tessera v. United Test and Assembly Center Morgan Chu, Tessera v. United Test and Assembly Center Ted Olson and David Boies, Perry v. Schwarzenegger Greg Craig and Alan Dershowitz, Mamani v. Bustamente Jamie Gorelick, Carrington v. Duke University Maureen Mahoney, Arthur Andersen v. United States Jumpstart Your Sentences

36. The Starting Gate: The one-syllable opener

John Roberts, Alaska v. EPA Ted Olson, Robinson v. Bowen Miguel Estrada, Sanders v. Madison Square Garden Richard Wiley, In re XM-Sirius Merger Elena Kagan, United States v. Stevens

37. Size Matters: The pithy sentence

John Roberts, Alaska v. EPA John Payton and the NAACP, Greater New Orleans Fair Action Housing Center v. HUD John Quinn, Mattel v. MGA Entertainment Morgan Chu, Tivo v. Echostar Bernie Nussbaum, IBP v. Tyson Foods Nancy Abell, Doiwchi v. Princess Cruise Lines Fred Bartlit, Stumpf v. Garvey Richard Taranto, Morgan Stanley v. Public Utility District No. 1 of Snohomish County Carter Phillips, Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church v. City of New York Roy Englert, Choose Life Illinois v. White Ken Starr and Eric Holder, McDonald v. United States Greg Garre, Weber v. Infinity Broadcasting Ted Wells, NAACP v. Ameriquest Mortgage Company Pattie Millett and Tom Goldstein, United States v. Stevens Maureen Mahoney and Greg Garre, Christian Legal Society v. Martinez Herbert Wachtell, NFL Enterprises v. Echostar Satellite Bernie Nussbaum, IBP v. Tyson Foods Phil Corboy, Boyle v. RJW Transport Miguel Estrada, FCC v. Fox

38. Freight Train: The balanced, elegant long sentence

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Craig v. Boren John Roberts, Alaska v. EPA

39. Leading Parts: Two sentences joined as one

Greg Garre, Weber v. Infinity Broadcasting Miguel Estrada, FCC v. Fox Carter Phillips, Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church v. City of New York Seth Waxman, Boumediene v. Bush Frank Easterbrook, Kissinger v. Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

40. Talk to Yourself: The rhetorical question

Kathleen Sullivan, SEC v. Siebel Systems Bob Bennett, United States v. [Scooter] Libby Maureen Mahoney, Arthur Andersen v. United States Larry Tribe, Larkin v. Grendel’s Den Brendan Sullivan, United States v. Ted Stevens Richard Taranto, Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project Roy Englert, District Attorney for the Office for the Third Judicial District v. Osborne Bernie Nussbaum, IBP v. Tyson Foods Phil Corboy, Rodriguez v. Voss

41. Parallel Lives: The parallel construction

Carter Phillips, Lucent Technologies v. Gateway Richard Taranto, Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project Greg Garre, Weber v. Infinity Broadcasting David Boies, United States v. Microsoft Fred Bartlit, Stumpf v. Garvey John Payton and the NAACP, In re Alper Holdings USA Ken Starr and John Roberts, Rust v. Sullivan Ted Olson, Robinson v. Bowen Nancy Abell, Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores Ted Olson, Robinson v. Bowen Barack Obama, Tyus v. Bosley Creative Punctuation

42. A Dash of Style: The dash

Elena Kagan, United States v. Stevens John Roberts, Alaska v. EPA Roy Englert, District Attorney for the Office for the Third Judicial District v. Osborne Elena Kagan, United States v. Stevens Pattie Millett and Tom Goldstein, United States v. Stevens Interlude: The hyphen John Roberts, Alaska v. EPA

43. Good Bedfellows: The semicolon

John Roberts, Alaska v. EPA Larry Lessig, Warner Bros. Entertainment v. RDR Books Stephen Susman, Sklar v. Bank of America Frank Easterbrook, Kissinger v. Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Herbert Wachtell, Barron v. Igolnikov

44. Magician’s Mark: The colon

Larry Tribe, Larkin v. Grendel’s Den Barack Obama, Tyus v. Bosley Walter Dellinger, Bank of America v. City of Cleveland Brendan Sullivan, United States v. Stevens Herbert Wachtell, NFL Enterprises v. Echostar Satellite Carter Phillips, Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church v. City of New York Seamless Flow Virginia Seitz, Williams v. Mohawk

45. Take Me by the Hand: Logical connectors

110 Transition Words and Phrases Six former federal judges, Hamdi v. Rumsfeld Seth Waxman, MercExchange v. eBay Larry Lessig and Kathleen Sullivan, Eldred v. Ashcroft Roy Englert, Federal Insurance Company v. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

46. Bridge the Gap: Linked paragraphs

John Roberts, Alaska v. EPA Thurgood Marshall, Brown v. Board of Education Ted Olson, Robinson v. Bowen Larry Tribe and Kathleen Sullivan, Romer v. Evans Carolyn Lamm, Globe Nuclear Services and Supply v. AO Techsnabexport Patrick Fitzgerald, [Judy] Miller v. United States Stephen M. Shapiro, Stoneridge Investment Partners v. Scientific Atlanta Visual Appeal Interlude: Looking good

47. Join My Table: Tables and charts

David Boies, Renton v. Kaiser Morgan Chu, Tessera v. United Test and Assembly Center Fred Bartlit, Pinpoint v. Amazon

48. Bullet Proof: Bullet points and lists

Mary Jo White, Trump v. O’Brien Nancy Abell, Jackson v. Microsoft Brendan Sullivan, United States v. Forbes Bernie Nussbaum, Crest v. Wal-Mart Walter Dellinger, Exxon v. Baker Nancy Abell, Jackson v. Microsoft Harvey Miller, In re General Motors Richard Wiley, In re XM-Sirius Merger Miguel Estrada, FCC v. Fox Walter Dellinger, Bank of America v. Cleveland

Part Five: The Close

The Last Word 49. Parting Thought: End the argument with a provocative quotation or pithy thought

Paul Smith, Lawrence v. Texas Patrick Fitzgerald, United States v. Rogan John Roberts, Alaska v. EPA Morgan Chu, MedImmune v. Genentech Maureen Mahoney and Greg Garre, Christian Legal Society v. Martinez

50. Wrap-Up: Recast your main points in a separate conclusion

Miguel Estrada, Sanders v. Madison Square Garden Larry Lessig, Warner Bros. Entertainment v. RDR Books Fred Bartlit, Stumpf v. Garvey Brendan Sullivan, United States v. Ted Stevens Richard Wiley and John Roberts, Advanced Communications Corporation v. FCC Nancy Abell, Doiwchi v. Princess Cruise Lines Ted Olson, California v. GM

Appendices

The Top Fifty Advocates: Biographies How to Write the Perfect Brief: Fifty Techniques

Step One: The Theme Step Two: The Tale Step Three: The Meat Using Headings Structuring the Sections Analogizing Distinguishing Using Parentheticals Introducing Block Quotations Using Footnotes Step Four: The Words Liven Up the Language Jumpstart Your Sentences Creative Punctuation Seamless Flow Visual Appeal Step Five: The Close

Twenty Best Quotes from Judges Annotated Models

Before-and-after section from Jones v. Clinton Alaska v. EPA MercExchange v. eBay

Index

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