ENGL292 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Bertha Wilson, Black Letter Law, Payphone
Document Summary
Why do judges go through long explanations and set out all their reasoning. Even if things seem obvious they have to be set out. Showing how you get from a to b to c, etc. Have to show all points of reasoning on the way. When there"s a case that goes to court, there has to be a winner and a loser (can"t be a tie) Litigants in the case, need to have assurance that they have been given a fair hearing. Not just people who are involved in the case. The public has to know that there is transparency in the legal system. Persuade listeners that it was the right decision to make. If judges know that their work is going to be scrutinized and looked at, they"re more likely to write a full and persuasive opinion. Make sure they"re not making decisions out of their own prejudice.