Ode to Chief Solomon Adegboyega Awomolo SAN: By Chinua Asuzu
From Destiny Chambers of Ilorin where a young advocate first tempered steel with fire to the Body of Benchers in Abuja where wisdom crowned experience your path has been paved…
Should Capriology Be Taught in Judicial School? By Chinua Asuzu
Judge Frank Caprio’s passing at 88 leaves more than fond memories—it leaves a legacy of kindness in justice. His philosophy, now framed as “Capriology,” calls for courts to balance legal…
Concurrent Findings? That’s a Misnomer! By Chinua Asuzu
In Nigerian appellate discourse, few phrases are as entrenched as “concurrent findings of fact.” Judges invoke it as a talisman, lawyers chant it as a mantra, and academics grant it…
Does mere entry in a dictionary qualify a word for use as defined or at all? The short answer is NO.
By Chinua Asuzu Most lexicographers, especially at descriptivist institutions like Merriam-Webster, don’t prescribe how language should be used. They describe how language is used. So when a dubious word or…
What’s the difference between _anticipate_ and _expect_? _By Chinua Asuzu
The verb _anticipate_ means “to take some action in preparation for or against what one is expecting.” _Anticipate_ is active, entailing some action, measure, or step. The verb _expect_ means…
Preemptive Strikes in Advocacy By Chinua Asuzu
In advocacy, presenting only positive information and arguments can be “superficial, myopic, and, ultimately, unconvincing.” Kathryn M. Stanchi, ‘Playing with Fire: The Science of Confronting Adverse Material in Legal Advocacy,’…
Are your semantics on steroids?_By Chinua Asuzu_
Many users of the language indulge in what I call steroidal semantics: the hypercorrection of idioms, phrases, and forms long blessed by usage. Instead of trusting established English usages, they…
Stop Shouting at Judges! By Chinua Asuzu
Far too many lawyers sabotage their voice by shouting on the page. They do this by abusing, misusing, or overusing typographic tools like ALL CAPS, boldface, italics, and underlining. Such…
Stop saying “case laws.” By Chinua Asuzu
It’s “caselaw,” or “case law”, not “case laws,” no matter how many cases you’re discussing. “Caselaw” is a mass noun and shouldn’t be pluralized. It’s not a count noun. “Caselaw”…
In advocacy, advance both justifying and motivating arguments. By Chinua Asuzu
Justifying arguments are what most of us are used to. Let’s incorporate motivating arguments to augment and boost our advocacy. A justifying argument appeals to law, logic, and reason. It…