A written legal document submitted to a court that presents arguments, legal authorities, and facts supporting a party's position in a case. Despite its name, briefs are often lengthy and detailed.
From Latin 'brevis' meaning 'short,' through Old French 'bref.' Ironically, the legal meaning evolved from papal letters called 'breves' (short letters), though modern legal briefs are typically anything but brief in length.
Legal briefs are the ultimate misnomer - they're called 'brief' but can be hundreds of pages long! Think of them as a lawyer's attempt to download their entire argument directly into a judge's brain, complete with every possible legal authority that might support their case.
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