There’s a writing revolution at the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Supreme Guide to Writing
The days of stodgy legal writing are over. Today’s Supreme Court justices cast aside formality in favor of approachable language—their opinions are dotted with pithy phrases, contractions, and pop-culture references. The Supreme Guide to Writing details a revolution in legal writing, with the justices progressing beyond the drab and technical for the deft and lyrical. With the first-ever analysis of 10,000 pages of opinions, this writing playbook shows you how to master modern writing style and grammar with the justices as your guide.
Revolution: a dramatic and wide-reaching change in the way something works or in people's ideas about it.
Advance Praise for The Supreme Guide to Writing
“Great legal writing needs great legal writers to show the way. The Supreme Guide to Writing does the hard work by combing the U.S. Reports for the latest trends and styles from our best legal writers—the Justices themselves. The result is an ideal guide to improve one’s legal writing. Learn when to follow conventional grammatical rules, and when to break them, and countless other tips to become a better writer. The secret to great legal writing is hard work, but this invaluable book makes it easier for us all.”
—Gregory G. Garre, Supreme Court practitioner and 44th Solicitor General of the United States
“Professor Barton’s book is stupendous. The book’s rigorously empirical approach makes her writing tips and insights even more compelling.”
— Ross Guberman, Founder, BriefCatch and author of Point Made
“Jill Barton applies a very careful lens to the U.S. Supreme Court justices’ writing style. With The Supreme Guide to Writing, she focuses with precision on writing mechanics and style in an accessible format, using relatable examples, with a conversational tone that is sure to gain readers’ interest. Barton has a strong, compelling, fresh voice. This book will appeal to a broad audience, including lawyers, law students, judges, and scholars—anyone studying, practicing, or interested in law.”
— Anne E. Ralph, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Morgan E. Shipman Professor of Law, The Ohio State University
Excerpts from Published Reviews
“Barton provides helpful guidance through this tangle by exploring the quirks and complexities that govern written language, particularly in the context of U.S. Supreme Court opinions. . . . The result is an insightful work that will resonate with legal professionals and language enthusiasts alike.”
— Kimberly Dasse, Legal Communication & Rhetoric: JALWD
“Beyond a reference work, The Supreme Guide to Writing reminds us that all writing is a creative endeavor. In finding one’s voice, an author must both respect and bend ancient rules of grammar and style. As Barton writes, ‘getting the style right can mean getting your point right.’ Legal writing is a precise art, and Barton’s book lights the way toward both precision and artistry.
— Christina M. Frohock, The Journal of Appellate Practice and Process
“This is a brief and straightforward reference work that . . . is refreshingly accessible . . . . The rules identified are to the point and of general application: keep sentences short; use the active voice; brevity is key (although this may baffle UK lawyers used to a two-pages-to-one-paragraph ratio of US to UK drafting).
— Tom Proverbs-Garbett, Law Society Gazette (UK)
“The Supreme Guide to Writing from the Oxford University Press is essentially a complete, comprehensive, and thoroughly ‘reader friendly’ in terms of content, organization and presentation..”
— Jim Cox, Midwest Book Review