Miscellaneous

Over at California Blog of Appeal, Greg May asked readers for their views on using contractions in legal writing, and received a variety of responses. I have my own opinion on that topic, which I left in a comment on Greg?s blog. Here, I want to relate not an opinion, but a fact: Seventh Circuit Judge Richard Posner?regarded by many as one of today?s finest judicial writers?frequently uses contractions in his legal opinions. Here are just two examples which I happened to come across today:

• In re James Wilson Assocs., 965 F.2d 160 (7th Cir. 1992): six contractions.
• Dura Automotive Sys. of Ind., Inc. v. CTS Corp., 285 F.3d 609 (7th Cir. 2002): four contractions.

To those who think contractions have no place in legal briefs, I put this question: If contractions are good enough for Judge Posner?s published opinions, why are they not good enough for a brief to be submitted to, say, Judge Posner?