Order of signals – If you have more than one signal, they come in the order in which they are listed above. Rule 1.3. If you include signals from two different signal types, as noted above, you will need to start a new set of citations for each type. For example, if you want to cite two cases after a see signal, and then also provide a but-see case, dot a period after your second see case and capitalize the but see signal. The Blue Book introduces signals such as “a text message to the reader about the relationship between a proposal and the source or authority cited for that proposal”. Rule B1.2. Simply put, they explain to the reader at a glance what kind of legal support you have for what you wrote in the previous sentence. Think of every sentence of your legal letter as a bill you must defend. The authority you cite for each proposal indicates to the reader the weight of the legal authority that supports your proposal. Signals help you describe your authority to the reader.
When the signals are used correctly, the reader needs to know exactly what to expect when drawing the case or law you are quoting. For example, if you cite a case without a signal, the reader can expect that case to say exactly or almost exactly what your proposal says. On the other hand, if you use a maritime signal, the reader knows that you have support, but that there is some space between your proposal and the cited authority. The signals you can use to inform your reader of your authority are discussed below. While easy to overlook in the writing process, the signals and format of the quote set are important to your reader. Beware of signals this week when reading legal texts, and you`ll see how they can really convey. Properly used signals and clean citation sentences improve your legal writing in terms of accuracy and polishing. If you make an effort to make sure your signals send the right signals, readers (including your law professors) will definitely notice the difference. There are circumstances where an author has already directly supported a statement he made in his writing with a quote, but still wants to add additional support.
In this case, the see signal would also be used. Often, after the See Also citation, the author inserts certain information in parentheses to explain its relevance. Here is an example of also seeing which is used as an introductory signal. From the Latin exempli gratia e.g. used as a signal before a quote if the quote you are quoting is only one of many sources that would have supported the judgment or opinion expressed in the scriptures. Here is an example of the use of the introductory signal, such as A written statement that expresses a judgment or opinion can be supported by multiple sources. In some cases, the text of your letter may refer to only one of several quotes that support what you are saying. In this case, you would use the introductory signal match before quotes that support your suggestion, but are not directly quoted or mentioned in the text. Here is an example of how the agreement is used.
The signals form the structure of your quote sentence and your authorities form the substance. When constructing your quote sentence, remember to classify your signals and, within each signal, your authorities. In some circumstances, a source or quote may not directly support a statement in a legal document. That is, it is clear and obvious that the cited source supports what the author says, but the reader must make a “leap” or conclusion to make the connection between writing and quotation. This is when the see introduction signal is used. Here is an example of how to use the introductory signal. At least in law school, look to The Bluebook as an authoritative source of signals. See Regulation B1.2, 1.2. Signals are of three different types: signals for the supporting authority, a signal for comparing different authorities, and signals for conflicting authorities. See Rule 1.2(a) to (c). John Passmore is the editor of a legal publisher in Houston, Texas.
He received his B.A. from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, and his J.D. of The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C. John and his wife, Rebecca, enjoy drinking coffee and suing their one-year-old daughter, four-year-old son and standard poodle named Sebastian. Legal writing is difficult. You have to learn how to do legal research, you have to relearn how to write, you have to master complex substantive law, and you have to make your quotes blue. With all these challenges, the signals and formatting of quote sets can be easily overlooked. But the good news is that with a little attention, you can master this aspect of legal writing and stop awarding points for your legal writing assignments. For detailed treatment of signals and quote sentences, see Rule B1.2 and Rule 1.2 in The Bluebook, but I hope this article can highlight some basics of the signal.
Order of authority – In each signal, your authority must be in a specific order. Refer to rule 1.4 for a complete and detailed list, but generally remember these three rules: 1) the federal agency comes before the power of the state, 2) laws precede rules that precede cases, and 3) laws and rules go from bottom to top in numerical order; Cases are dealt with in reverse chronological order (i.e. The last case is the first). The complete absence of a signal before a quote indicates to the reader that the quote directly supports the text. In particular, you would refrain from using a signal before the quotation if the quotation a) is the source of a quotation, b) directly supports the text, or c) refers directly to the text. Here is an example of a quote without any signal indication. Punctuation and capitalization – Capitalize – Capitalize your first signal after your suggestion. Place a semicolon between each authority and each signal.
And remember, when you switch to a new signal type, use a period to close your first set of quotes and start the next series of quotes with a capital letter.