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Many people, especially in the legal and political fields, use quotes by others against them.  There is nothing objectionable about this practice, and the term quote-mining could apply to nearly every legal proceeding and political campaign.

Many people, especially in the legal and political fields, use quotes by others against them.  There is nothing objectionable about this practice, and the term quote-mining could apply to nearly every legal proceeding and political campaign.

===Fact===

===Fact: Defining Quote Mining===

While quoting relevant parts of judicial decisions is indeed widespread, and lawyers and politicians often quote one's own arguments against them to show a contradiction, "quote mining" as used is something else entirely.  Quote mining implies selective quotation either that, either negligently or purposefully, omits relevant parts from an argument.  For example, consider the following ''invented'' quotation from an imaginary legal case.

While quoting relevant parts of judicial decisions is indeed widespread, and lawyers and politicians often quote one's own arguments against them to show a contradiction, "quote mining" as used is something else entirely.  Quote mining implies selective quotation either that, either negligently or purposefully, omits relevant parts from an argument.  For example, consider the following ''invented'' quotation from an imaginary legal case.

This should demonstrate that an accusation of "quote mining" is not merely an indictment for appealing to authority, a well-settled tactic indeed - the accusation is of ''appealing to authority in a selective manner, so as to distort and confound the actual meaning of the authority.

This should demonstrate that an accusation of "quote mining" is not merely an indictment for appealing to authority, a well-settled tactic indeed - the accusation is of ''appealing to authority in a selective manner, so as to distort and confound the actual meaning of the authority.

Attorneys are under a well-settled duty not to misrepresent authority to a court of law.  In essence, they may not "quote mine."  By way of example, a Federal Circuit Court in 2003 disciplined an attorney for selectively quoting elements of a [[court]] [[Opinion (Law)|opinion]].  The attorney, faced with a charge of contempt of court for delaying filing a motion by ''twelve days'' when the court ordered her to do so "forthwith," explained that, by settled law,<ref>The attorney cited City of New York v. McAllister Brothers, Inc., 278 F.2d 708, 710.</ref> "Forthwith means immediately, without delay, or as soon may be accomplished by reasonable exertion."<ref>''Id.''</ref>  She neglected to cite the following sentence, which explained that "forthwith" generally means, "within twenty-four hours,"<ref>''Id.''</ref> apparently hoping that, without this qualification, the court would read "forthwith" as implying ''no time constraint other than necessity.''

Attorneys are under a well-settled duty not to misrepresent authority to a court of law.  In essence, they may not "quote mine."  By way of example, a Federal Circuit Court in 2003 disciplined an attorney for selectively quoting elements of a [[court]] [[Opinion (Law)|opinion]].  The attorney, faced with a charge of contempt of court for delaying filing a motion by ''twelve days'' when the court ordered her to do so "forthwith," explained that, by settled law,<ref>The attorney cited City of New York v. McAllister Brothers, Inc., 278 F.2d 708, 710.</ref> "Forthwith means immediately, without delay, or as soon may be accomplished by reasonable exertion."<ref>''Id.''</ref>  She neglected to cite the following sentence, which explained that "forthwith" generally means, "within twenty-four hours,"<ref>''Id.''</ref> apparently hoping that, without this qualification, the court would read "forthwith" as implying ''no time constraint other than necessity.''