Bench memorandum

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A bench memorandum (pl. bench memoranda) (also known as a bench memo) is a short and neutral memorandum that summarizes the facts, issues, and arguments of a court case. Bench memos are used by the judge as a reference during preparation for trial, the hearing of lawyers' arguments, and the drafting of a decision and also to give the judge an idea of the arguments given by each side in the court case.{{cite web |url=http://www.law.mercer.edu/academics/handouts/Drafting%20Judicial%20Opinions--JFP.doc |title=Archived copy |website=www.law.mercer.edu |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615173822/http://www.law.mercer.edu/academics/handouts/Drafting%20Judicial%20Opinions--JFP.doc |archive-date=15 June 2010 |url-status=dead}} Bench memos are generally written by the judge's law clerk.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}