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Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

University of Michigan Law School

2004

Legal Writing and Research

Drafting

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Full-Text Articles in Law

Restyling The Civil Rules: Clarity Without Change, Edward H. Cooper Jan 2004

Restyling The Civil Rules: Clarity Without Change, Edward H. Cooper

Articles

Devoted fans and casual users of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure will feel mixed emotions on contemplating the Style Project that aims to rewrite every rule from Rule 1 to the end. Well they might. The Style Project's purpose is simply stated. The Civil Rules, created in an inspired fit of creativity, have been amended repeatedly over the years. Experience has shown that even inspired initial drafting could not avoid all misadventures and that amendments drafted by successive generations wielding different drafting tools do not always fit well. The present rules can be reworked to say more clearly what …