Bright-line test: Difference between revisions

1. (''American''). A conceptual exercise bestowing a so great degree of confidence in the mind of a member of the New York bar that it cannot, as a matter of [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]], much less legal theory, exist.  A bright-line test is thus a kind of unachievable Platonic ideal; a sunlit upland to which all US attorneys wistfully aspire in their written memorands, but which all know, and thank their lucky stars, they will never encounter in person. Thus the words “[[bright-line test]]” are always uttered in the negative, and with insincere remorse — e.g., “sadly, [[there’s no bright-line test] for this”. It is a [[US attorney]]’s means of evading any responsibility for anything she says, does, or commits to a lengthy written [[legal opinion|memorandum of advice]].