The connection between judges and their audiences on the one hand, and judicial opinions and their functions on the other hand, is explored. Key roles played by reporting and publishing judicial opinions in advancing distinctly American values are considered, as are the dominance exercised by the best judicial opinion writers and the increasing role of law clerks who are called on to write judicial opinions. Contradictions and ironies surrounding judicial opinions and their place in society and legal literature are discussed. The author emphasizes the importance of judicial opinions and sketches the evolution of judicial opinion reporting and publication. He also covers the question of who writes judicial opinions, judicial opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court, and judicial opinions of lower Federal courts. Notes