The Receipt File

Before deciding what a court story means, identify the document behind it. A party's filing and a judge's decision have different roles. The headline should tell readers whose statement they are reading and what question was addressed.

A receipt is evidence a reader can inspect and connect to a specific claim. Its strength depends on what it establishes, how it was produced, and whether the conclusion stays within its limits.

A practical pause before forwarding a headline, chart, clip, or screenshot.