Scribes (society)
''The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing''
### *The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing*

In 1990, Scribes printed its first volume of *The Scribes Journal of Legal Writing*. The initial circulation was 3,000 copies; its editor in chief was [Bryan Garner](/wiki/Bryan_Garner "Bryan Garner"), then a young law\-school professor at the [University of Texas](/wiki/University_of_Texas "University of Texas"). Today, Garner is recognized as the preeminent authority on legal writing and language.

From 2001 through 2013, the editor in chief was Professor Joseph Kimble, who is widely known for his plain\-language advocacy and his work restyling the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence. From 2013 to 2022, Professor Mark Cooney served as editor in chief. The current editor in chief is [Professor Megan E. Boyd](https://law.gsu.edu/profile/megan-e-boyd/#:~:text=Boyd%20joined%20the%20Georgia%20State,Legal%20Argument%2C%20and%20Animal%20Law.).

The *Journal* is widely read and cited.*See, e.g.*, *Texas v. United States*, 809 F.3d 134, 148 n.14 (5th Cir. 2015\); Hardge v. DuBosq, 797 So. 2d 84, 91 n.5 (La. Ct. App. 2001\); Tom Gaylord, *Briefer Briefs: Writing and Speaking Tips from the Supreme Court*, 99 Ill. B.J. 368 *passim* (2011\); Adam Liptak, *Keep the Briefs Brief, Literary Justices Advise*, N.Y. Times May 21, 2011, at A12\. Its distribution exceeds 6,000 copies, and it has published articles by some of the best\-known figures in legal writing, including Bryan Garner, Joseph Kimble, [Charles Alan Wright](/wiki/Charles_Alan_Wright "Charles Alan Wright"), Judge [Richard Posner](/wiki/Richard_Posner "Richard Posner"), [Lawrence M. Friedman](/wiki/Lawrence_M._Friedman "Lawrence M. Friedman"), Richard Wydick, Reed Dickerson, Dean Darby Dickerson, [Irving Younger](/wiki/Irving_Younger "Irving Younger"), Steven Stark, Ken Adams, Ross Guberman, and Wayne Schiess.

Volume 13 of the *Scribes Journal* featured the transcripts of interviews with justices of the [United States Supreme Court](/wiki/United_States_Supreme_Court "United States Supreme Court"). The interviews were conducted by [Bryan Garner](/wiki/Bryan_Garner "Bryan Garner").


Can you give examples of successful plain-language advocacy initiatives?