Editing Scrivener (section)

==Doctrine of "scrivener's error"==

{{see also|Scrivener's error}}

The doctrine of a "[[Clerical error|scrivener's error]]" is the legal principle that a map-drafting or typographical error in a written contract may be corrected by oral evidence if the evidence is clear, convincing, and precise. If such correction (called scrivener's amendment) affects property rights then it must be approved by those affected by it.<ref>[http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/doctrine-of-scrivener-s-error.html Doctrine of scrivener's error] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620125117/http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/doctrine-of-scrivener-s-error.html |date=2017-06-20 }}. Businessdictionary.com</ref>

It is a mistake made while copying or transmitting legal documents, as distinguished from a judgment error, which is an error made in the exercise of judgment or discretion, or a technical error, which is an error in interpreting a law, regulation, or principle.
There is a considerable body of [[case law]] concerning the proper treatment of a scrivener's error. For example, where the parties to a contract make an oral agreement that, when reduced to a writing, is mis-transcribed, the aggrieved party is entitled to reformation so that the writing corresponds to the oral agreement.

A scrivener's error can be grounds for an appellate court to remand a decision back to the trial court. For example, in ''Ortiz v. State of Florida'', Ortiz had been convicted of possession of less than 20g of marijuana, a misdemeanor. However, Ortiz was mistakenly adjudicated guilty of a felony for the count of marijuana possession. The appellate court held that "we must remand the case to the trial court to correct a scrivener's error."<ref>Ortiz v. State, 600 So. 2d 530 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1992) https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1147262/ortiz-v-state/</ref>

In some circumstances, courts can also correct scrivener's errors found in primary legislation.<ref>David M Sollors, War on Error: The Scrivener's Error Doctrine and Textual Criticism: Confronting Errors in Statutes and Literary Texts, Santa Clara Law Review, 2009</ref>