Final answer:
William Brennan exemplifies ethos in legal discussions due to his credibility and authority as a Supreme Court Justice, whose expert opinions and moral views in constitutional law lend significant weight to any argument.
Step-by-step explanation:
William Brennan would be considered an ethos because, as a long-serving and highly influential Justice of the United States Supreme Court, he would embody the ethical appeal known as ethos. This rhetorical device highlights a speaker's or authority's credibility and trustworthiness.
In the context of legal discussions, Brennan's opinions and legal understandings carry significant weight due to his expertise, authority, and ethical considerations in the field of law.
Brennan's tenure on the Supreme Court was marked by a commitment to the expansion of individual rights and decisions that have had a lasting impact on constitutional law.
When referring to Brennan or quoting his legal opinions, one invokes his ethos to strengthen the argument by aligning it with his judicial wisdom and moral authority. Brennan's reputation for shaping pivotal rulings would bolster the credibility of any argument or analysis grounded in his judicial philosophy.