A big part of my law practice is writing briefs, so lawyers often ask my advice on how to write a good brief. I always pass along three key rules:
1. Read the court’s rules for brief writing and then follow them.
2. Tell a good story in your brief.
3. Don’t use footnotes.
If you violate rules 1 and 3, then this is what could happen.
Hat tip to Appellate Law and Practice blog for the link.
In a surprising development, Houstonian Eric Andell, a former deputy undersecretary under fellow Houstonian Rod Paige at the Education Department, a former Harris County district and appellate court judge, and probably the most popular Democrat in local political circles, pleaded guilty to charging the federal government about $9,000 for personal travel in which he conducted personal business and worked as a visiting judge while still employed in Washington. He faces up to one year in prison and has agreed to reimburse the federal government for the improper charges. Mr. Andell will be sentenced July 29 in Washington.