Again, let me express my gratitude to you and all others contributing to these threads. Your discussions, even disputes, are always clarifying and stimulating, and encouraging to those of us who may be able to contribute, if in lesser ways, in the long run.
I've been on this situation since 1998 when I spent two years editing Bill Walker's brief in Walker v. US, which was filed in the 9th Circuit in 2000. The federal courts refused to grant cert to Walker, which was frustrating. A better judge would have treated the case like a law seminar for professionals, but Judge Coughenor didn't see it that way.
I later came to understand why. The late John Armour, our old FReeper friend "Congressman Billybob", taught me basic law school thinking in an e-mail correspondence. As Professor Kingsfield said in "The Paper Chase", "You come into this room with minds full of mush, and if you survive, you'll leave thinking like a lawyer." John taught me how that worked. I owe him a hell of a lot.
FR certainly promotes research and tight writing.
Amen. I wish to second GopherIt's expression of gratitude. I am learning much from these discussions.