Supreme Court and appellate advocacy : mastering oral argument / by David C. Frederick ; foreword by Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
2010
KF8870 .F74 2010 (Map It)
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Details
Author
Title
Supreme Court and appellate advocacy : mastering oral argument / by David C. Frederick ; foreword by Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Published
St. Paul, MN : Thomson/West, [2010]
Copyright
©2010
Call Number
KF8870 .F74 2010
Edition
Second edition.
ISBN
9780314194411 (hbk.)
031419441X (hbk.)
031419441X (hbk.)
Description
xxiii, 435 pages ; 23 cm.
System Control No.
(OCoLC)496124638
Note
Includes index.
Bibliography, etc. Note
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Record Appears in
Gift
Purchased from the income of the Edith L. Fisch Fund
Gift
The Arthur W. Diamond Law Library
Purchased from the income of the Edith L. Fisch Fund
Table of Contents
Foreword
v
Preface to Second Edition
ix
Preface
xi
Westlaw Overview
xv
pt. I
INTRODUCTION AND HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
ch. One
Introduction
2
1.1.
The Importance of Oral Argument
4
1.2.
How Courts Use Oral Argument
5
1.3.
Oral Argument From the Parties' Perspective
8
1.4.
The Approach of This Book to Oral Argument
11
ch. Two
A Brief History of Oral Argument in the Supreme Court
14
2.1.
Early Practice of Oral Argument in the Supreme Court
15
2.2.
Transitional Efforts to Regulate Oral Argument
22
2.3.
Creation of the Office of the Solicitor General
27
2.4.
Twentieth Century Developments
33
2.5.
The Re---Emergence of the Supreme Court Bar
47
2.6.
Dynamics of Change in Oral Argument Practice
49
pt. II
PREPARATION FOR ORAL ARGUMENT
ch. Three
Beginning the Preparation Process
54
3.1.
Writing the Brief
55
3.2.
Preparing to Argue Someone Else's Brief
56
3.3.
Evaluating Oral Argument Objectives
57
3.4.
Determining the Scope of What to Prepare
58
3.5.
Developing a Preparation Schedule
59
3.6.
The Opening
63
3.7.
Developing a Plan for Addressing Questions
67
3.8.
Argument Podium Binder
69
3.9.
Synthesis and Practice
74
3.10.
Speaking Style
75
3.11.
Emotional Ups and Downs
76
ch. Four
Types of Questions Commonly Asked
80
4.1.
Background Questions
82
4.1.a.
Questions About the Parties Involved
82
4.1.b.
Questions About the Opinion Under Review
83
4.1.c.
Questions About Views of Different Courts to Address the Same Issue
84
4.1.d.
Questions About the Record
86
4.1.e.
Questions About Context
87
4.1.f.
Questions About Why the Supreme Court Is Hearing the Case
89
4.2.
Questions About the Scope of the Rule Being Advocated
91
4.2.a.
Questions About the Party's Position
91
4.2.b.
Case---Dispositive Questions
95
4.2.c.
Questions Seeking an Articulation of the Correct Legal Test
98
4.2.d.
Questions About Limiting Principles
100
4.2.e.
Questions About Precedent
101
4.2.f.
Questions About Distinctions in the Case Law
103
4.2.g.
Questions About Statutory Text
105
4.2.h.
Questions About Legislative History
105
4.2.i.
Questions About the Policies Underlying the Rule
107
4.2.j.
Questions Seeking Concessions
110
4.3.
Questions About the Implications of the Rule Being Advocated
110
4.3.a.
Hypothetical Questions
111
4.3.b.
Questions About Analogous Legal Contexts
116
4.4.
Questions Reflecting Judicial Idiosyncracies
118
4.4.a.
Questions Stemming From the Prior Professional Experience of the Judge
118
4.4.b.
Questions From the Judge's Personal Knowledge
122
4.4.c.
Questions Based on Judicial Philosophy or Constitutional Approach
124
4.4.d.
Styles of Asking Questions
125
ch. Five
Moot Courts
128
5.1.
Why Do Moot Courts?
128
5.2.
How to Do Moot Courts
130
5.3.
The Informal Moot Court
132
5.4.
The Formal Moot Court
135
5.5.
How Not to Do Moot Courts
136
5.6.
Articulating a Theory of the Case
138
5.7.
Perfecting Answers
141
5.8.
Use of Analogies
143
5.9.
Preparing Defensively, Arguing Offensively
146
5.10.
Resources for Moot Courts
148
ch. Six
After the Moot Courts: The Final Few Days
149
6.1.
The Mantra
149
6.2.
Affirmative Points
152
6.3.
Thinking Through Segues
154
6.4.
Final Preparation of Materials
157
6.5.
A Visualization Exercise
158
6.6.
What to Bring to Court
160
6.7.
Visual Aids
161
6.8.
The Morning of Argument
162
6.9.
At the Supreme Court
164
6.10.
At the Court of Appeals
166
pt. III
PRESENTATION OF ORAL ARGUMENT
ch. Seven
Basic Approaches to Oral Argument
170
7.1.
Petitioner's Argument
170
7.2.
Respondent's Argument
181
7.3.
Rebuttal Argument
188
7.4.
Amicus Curiae Argument
191
7.5.
Multiple---Party Arguments
196
7.6.
Arguing on the Same Side as the United States
199
7.7.
Closing the Argument
200
ch. Eight
Common Mistakes in Oral Arguments
202
8.1.
Speaking Style Errors
203
8.1.a.
Speak With Too Much Passion or Rhetoric
204
8.1.b.
Speak Too Loudly or Rapidly
207
8.1.c.
Read to the Court
208
8.1.d.
Fail to Maintain a Professional Posture While Arguing
210
8.1.e.
Have Disorganized Notes
211
8.2.
Substantive Errors
211
8.2.a.
Avoid Direct Answers to Questions
211
8.2.b.
Use Ill---Considered Metaphors
213
8.2.c.
Make Up Hypothetical Examples
215
8.2.d.
Use Tendentious Propositions
216
8.2.e.
Lead Off With a Proposition That Generates Questions
219
8.2.f.
Reargue Facts Decided Adversely Below
221
8.2.g.
Argue About Issues Outside the Questions Presented
222
8.2.h.
Fail to Make the Strongest Arguments Until the End of the Argument
223
8.2.i.
End the Argument Poorly
225
8.3.
Errors in Citing Materials
226
8.3.a.
Cite Authority Incorrectly
226
8.3.b.
Cite the Record Incorrectly
226
8.3.c.
Cite Record Materials the Court Cannot Easily Find
230
8.3.d.
Rely on Citations of Material Not Found in the Brief
231
8.3.e.
Cite Cases Without Explaining Them
232
8.4.
Errors in Handling Members of the Court
234
8.4.a.
Interrupt the Court
234
8.4.b.
Misaddress a Member of the Court
235
8.4.c.
Misaddress the Chief Justice
235
8.4.d.
Ask Questions of the Court Except to Clarify the Meaning of a Question
236
8.4.e.
Defer Consideration of Questions
237
8.5.
Decorum Errors
237
8.5.a.
Attack Opposing Counsel
237
8.5.b.
Use Sarcasm in the Courtroom
238
8.5.c.
Show Anger or Frustration With the Court
239
8.5.d.
Use Humor Inappropriately
240
8.5.e.
Make Statements the Court Can Easily Ridicule
241
8.5.f.
Use Intemperate Language
243
8.5.g.
Be Too Informal With the Court
244
ch. Nine
Attributes of the Best Advocates
245
9.1.
Substantive Approaches
246
9.1.a.
Have a Mantra
247
9.1.b.
Answer Questions Directly
250
9.1.c.
Make Affirmative Points
253
9.1.d.
Fill "Air" Time
254
9.1.e.
Educate the Court
255
9.1.f.
Cull Down Distinctions to Problematic Cases
257
9.1.g.
Use Understandable Short-hand References
261
9.1.h.
Understand the Context of the Problem or the Client's Business
261
9.1.i.
Research Answers to Questions That May Arise
263
9.1.j.
Stick to the Black---Letter Law
263
9.1.k.
End on a Powerful Note
265
9.2.
Speaking Style
266
9.2.a.
Make Eye Contact
266
9.2.b.
Speak in a Conversational Tone, but with Professional Sincerity
268
9.2.c.
Speak in Short Sentences
269
9.2.d.
Be Respectful, but Not Obsequious
270
9.2.e.
Use Humor in an Appropriate Manner
270
9.2.f.
Maintain a Professional Demeanor
272
9.3.
Dealing With Members of the Court
273
9.3.a.
Demonstrate Flexibility
273
9.3.b.
Follow the Train of the Argument
275
9.3.c.
Handle Antagonistic Questions
276
9.3.d.
Correct Misstatements From the Bench
279
9.3.e.
End, if Possible, Before Time Expires
281
9.3.f.
Ask for Permission to Speak Beyond the Red Light
282
9.3.g.
Maintain Personal Credibility
283
pt. IV
APPENDICES
Appendix A
Checklists
287
Appendix B
Openings of Petitioner/Appellant
291
Appendix C
Openings of Respondent/Appellee
306
Appendix D
Model Amicus Openings
319
Appendix E
Examples of Effective Mid---Argument Advocacy Techniques
327
Appendix F
Model Rebuttals
381
Appendix G
Researching Appellate Advocacy on Westlaw
395
Table of Cases
417
About the Author
425
Index
427