The Voice of Reason : On the Craft of Judgment Writing

Reflective yet firmly grounded in experience, this book draws on the author’s dual vantage point as a sitting judge and seasoned judicial educator, shaped by more than a decade of developing judgment-writing programmes and tools. Designed for all who craft judicial reasons, the book speaks to both new and experienced writers.

The Voice of Reason offers a refreshing and practical take on the craft of judgment writing. Reflective yet firmly grounded in experience, it draws on the author’s dual vantage point as a sitting judge and seasoned judicial educator, shaped by more than a decade of developing judgment-writing programmes and tools. The book explains why, for whom, and how judges ought to write, and distils the qualities of effective judicial prose – robustness, tightness, precision and concision, and a tone marked by respect and humility. It provides practical judgment writing tips, and also confronts the emerging challenges of digital readership and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in judgement writing. Designed for all who craft judicial reasons – judges, judicial officers, tribunal members, and arbitrators – the book speaks to both new and experienced writers. Drawing on international jurisprudence and offering the first sustained treatment of judgment writing enriched by examples from Singapore case law, it adopts a global orientation that invites readers to refine their craft in service of what every judgment must ultimately embody: the voice of reason.