When you find a favorable precedent, you are ecstatic. Not only are you pleased that the court ruled as it did but you are certain the court ruled correctly because you believe your client is in the right or was wronged. Sometimes you express your enthusiasm in an editorial comment, as in the following sentence from a brief:
The Supreme Court correctly recognized that any change in the law would have to be made by the legislature.
The Supreme Court probably was correct, but it is not for you to say. You don’t have the stature. Claiming stature you don’t have suggests you may claim other things you don’t have, such as a good case. It taints your “ethos,” your credibility as an advocate.
