Limit Your Issues on Appeal

(Orin Kerr)

From the introduction to United States v. Bansal, a recent Third Circuit decision authored by Judge Aldisert:

We note at the outset that Bansal's and Mullinix's briefs raise approximately 75 issues for our consideration. Although the government responds by calling to our attention no fewer than 339 cases drawn from the span of more than 120 years (as well as 49 separate statutes and one book, for good measure), we reject any implication that we should pick up their torch and embark upon a similar adventure ourselves. We address only those issues we deem worthy of discussion, and only to the extent we deem necessary to explain our reasoning.

With that said, Judge Aldisert's opinion is still 69 pages long.