De Novo February 2005

The latest issue of our State Bar's Appellate Practice Section newsletter includes an account by John B. Rhode of Sommer, Olk, Schroeder & Payant, LLP, of his work on a pro bono amicus brief and subsequent argument before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Also in this issue, Nicholas C. Zales interviews Justice David T. Prosser, Jr.

Do you have any suggestions for writing better briefs?

"I have three. 1. Keep your briefs as short as you can to do justice to the subject. 2. Use every device you can, in terms of organization and headings, to enable the court to follow your arguments. Do not state the issue too broadly or too narrowly. 3. Include all the necessary documents, such as the decisions of the circuit and appellate court, in the Appendix and use its Table of Contents to clearly identify and explain why these documents are crucial to the record."