For the Record

The best Court Order in recent years can be found in the Citizens Coal Council v. Babbitt case (Civil Action No. 00-0274 (D.D.C. May 2, 2001)):

The recent heated exchange between plaintiffs and intervenor on the subject of whether or not the [National Mining Association] should have filed a statement of material facts pursuant to Rule 56.1 or not, whether the Court has granted plaintiff’s motion for leave to file supplemental authority or not, whether the Court’s own previous order is “authority” or not, etc., betrays a startling lack of sense of humor, or sense of proportion, or both, especially since it appears to be agreed that the facts relevant to this case are all in the administrative record. It is…ORDERED that NMA’s Rule 56.1 statement is not “rejected,” that it will remain of record, and that it may remain as “context” for NMA’s arguments. And it is FURTHER ORDERED that the parties lighten up.