SCOTUS Won’t Sanction Lawyer For Jargon-Packed Filing

The Supreme Court said this week it won’t sanction a Foley & Lardner partner for filing a cert petition filled with jargon and obscure language, but the Court did issue a warning to other lawyers. “All members of the bar are reminded … they are responsible—as officers of the court—for compliance with the requirement of Supreme Court Rule 14.3 that petitions for certiorari be stated ‘in plain terms,’ and may not delegate that responsibility to the client,” the Court wrote in a statement. The Foley & Lardner attorney said his client insisted on maintaining control of the filing, and the firm told the ABA Journal that it respects and was “pleased” with the Court’s action in the matter.