'His explanation would be discreditable if true; but I am satisfied that it is a lie': Discursive Strategies of Self-projection in Equity Judgments

The aim of this paper is to explore the most pervasive discursive strategies of self-projection characterising judgments delivered by the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice of England and Wales. By comparing this court, which traditionally deals with issues of equity (James 1989), with House of Lords judgments, it is apparent that Chancery Division judges typically make use of phraseological clusters (e.g. I am satisfied that…, I do not accept… and I find that…) in order to foreground their argumentative voice. The quantitative and qualitative study presented in the paper will shed light on the textual usage of those clusters, which act at three main levels: evaluation, dialogism, and the formulation of judicial interpretation at large.