Writing Reasons: A Handbook for Judges 6th ed

Since its first publication in 1998, Writing Reasons has been used widely by judges, members of administrative tribunals, and others in judicial roles throughout Canada and internationally. It has been translated into French and Turkish.

Writing Reasons: A Handbook for Judges, 6th Edition is a helpful guide for adjudicators on how to comprehensively structure and write judgments. Written by Edward Berry, an experienced lecturer and well-recognized seminar leader on the subject of writing judgments, this text is unique among works on legal writing in its focus on judgments. While it offers guidance directly to adjudicators, it can also provide helpful insights to lawyers submitting written materials to the court.

The 6th Edition deals with all aspects of written judgments, from the choice of individual words to the development of argumentative structures. It offers advice on many of the questions that trouble judicial writers, including how to manage quotations, how to organize facts, how to achieve conciseness, and how to develop a personal style. It also considers some of the distinctive features of oral judgments.

This book is particularly useful as it provides:

• Practical content devoted to the art of effectively writing judgments
• Insightful commentary on structure, grammar and writing for your audience
• Tips for making writing both clear and personal
• A series of exercises designed to test your ability to put into practice the principles of judgment writing, as well as an Appendix containing suggested "answers" to these exercises

What's New In This Edition

• Refreshed text throughout supporting clarity, conciseness, and credibility in a fast-evolving legal landscape
• Refinements in Chapter 1 (Introductions) and Chapter 2 (Organization), which further develop the book’s issue-driven approach
• New strategies and examples for inclusive language, helping judges communicate clearly with diverse and self-represented audiences (Chapter 7)
• Consideration of the disturbing implications of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) for judgment writing in relation to judicial voice, authorship, and ethics (Chapter 8)
• Updated content reflecting developments in judicial communication and legal culture, including Appendix 2: Additional Resources