Sometimes you won't need the Boolean operators to make sense of a rule. However, you will still want to separate each element that needs to be proven in order to easily and visually see that each condition must be satisfied in order to apply the rule. It messes with the flow of the rule and would be visually unattractive. Use the Boolean operator with discretion in order to facilitate your understanding of the rule and to indicate a logical change in the conditions. The final step is to state the underlying public policy or doctrine behind the rule.
Policy plays a key role in analysis.
Sometimes, the particular facts of a case may satisfy the elements of the rule but the result is not consistent with the underlying doctrine. It's likely that the court would then consider that particular set of circumstances as an exception to the rule. By noting the policy, you integrate the policy into the rule as a condition that must be satisfied. In general, a rule will be true only if it's policy is furthered by the application of the rule. Copyright 1999-2000 Benjamin A. Templin.