Documents do not speak for themselves

Federal Bankruptcy Judge Pat E. Morgenstern-Clarren (Northern District of Ohio) is tired of hearing the objection "the document speaks for itself."  In a memorandum issued October 4, 2010 to "All attorneys with bankruptcy cases on my docket," Judge Morgenstern-Clarren advises counsel not to make such an objection in answers, responses to requests for admission, or in open court when a witness is asked to read a document aloud.