Judge Steve Halsey
Wright County District Court
“My opponent’s ex parte motion for relief pendente lite is improperly brought and must be dismissed sua sponte and with prejudice,” argues the lawyer. Huh? Twenty words, six in Latin, completely incomprehensible legalese to all but Latin-speaking lawyers and judges. Surveys have shown that a significant percentage of citizens who have appeared in court, whether on a divorce matter, speeding ticket, or on jury duty, have no idea what just happened. Judge Dennis Duggan of Albany, New York, spoke at a family law conference for Minnesota judges and has been an outspoken critic of the use of “legalese” in the courtroom. In a 2006 article entitled, “When Judges Talk, Why No One Listens,” Judge Duggan lists 100 legal terms that lawyers used in his courtroom over a 3-week period. Here are a few: