THE ART OF ORAL ARGUMENT

Tips and Strategies for Effective Appellate Advocacy: Moot Court and Beyond

TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED:
Basic structure of the competition argument. Presentation of the argument. Strategies to win moot court points. Attire.

REMEMBER: ITS MOOT COURT WORLD

Moot Court is a competition, a game.

Score points for hitting certain markers.

May it please the court Road Map Your Honor Conclusion Prayer for Relief

Substance of your argument is certainly important. Also very concerned with style/presentation.

STRUCTURE OF A ROUND

Each side has a total of 10 minutes to argue. Appellant/Petitioner begins

May reserve 1-2 minutes for rebuttal at beginning of argument. (1 minute is recommended.) If competitor concludes early, may reserve remaining time for rebuttal.

Appellee/Respondent responds for the full 10 minutes.

Is not permitted surrebuttal. If concluded argument but time remains, may yield the time back to the court.

Appellant/Petitioner Rebuts.

BEFORE THE ROUND

If there are people inside your Room when it is time for your scheduled round to begin, please knock ONE TIME and wait for the room to clear. As soon as the previous Rounds competitors leave, enter the room. Competitors should wait in the room for the panel of judges to knock on the door and enter. When the judges enter the room, both competitors must stand. After the judges are seated, Appellant/Petitioner should approach the lectern and await the Chief Justices signal to begin.

STRUCTURE OF AN ARGUMENT
Introduction Roadmap (Facts) Issue One Issue Two Conclusion Rebuttal Appellant/Petitioner Only

INTRODUCTION

Begin with: May it please the court, my name is Thurgood Marshall, counsel for the Petitioner, Oliver L. Brown.

Petitioner/Respondent

When appealing to the Supreme Court Use this during Rounds 2 & 3 of Hardt Cup Address the Court as Mr./Madam Chief Justice and may it please the court When appealing to Federal Circuit Court Address the judges as Judge

Appellant/Appellee

RESERVE TIME FOR REBUTTAL

Petitioner should now ask to reserve time for rebuttal:

With the courts permission, I would like to reserve 1 minute for rebuttal.

THIS CASE IS ABOUT

Your

chance to frame the issue, without misstating it. Appellant/Petitioner

This case is about the inherent inequality of segregated school systems, which stamp a badge of inferiority upon minority children. This case is about the principles of federalism and stare decisis, which counsel this court to affirm its precedent in Plessy v. Ferguson that states may operate separate facilities of equal condition.

Appellee/Respondent

PRAYER FOR RELIEF AND ROADMAP

o

This court should Reverse the lower court. . .

Procedural aspect; Reverse/Affirm

and hold that the Arkansas statute is unconstitutional for two main reasons: . . .

Legal aspect

First, because segregated schools can never be equal AND

AND will be OR if you could win on either point

Second, because segregated schools violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

(FACTS)

If you are Appellant/Petitioner, you should offer to recite the facts to your judges.
Would the court care for a brief recitation of the facts? Most judges will say No. This should come after you read your roadmap and before you begin Issue One.

No longer than 30 seconds; Three most important facts. Appellee/Respondent:

offer facts if Appellant/Petitioner made serious error with LEGAL significance.

BODY OF THE ARGUMENT

Repeat your opening, adding a bit more detail First, schools separated on the basis of race can never be equal because segregation ingrains in minority children a deeply harmful sense of inferiority. [Substance of your argument]

Detail for 3-4 minutes Facts Case Law

Transition to Second Point

Second, segregated school systems violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment as articulated by this court in Bolling v. Sharpe.

TIME KEEPING

During Rounds 1, 2, and 3

The Associate Justice will keep time. The Associate Justice will hold up a card at 5 minutes remaining (5), 1 minute remaining (1), and at the conclusion of time (Stop). When your time lapses, you must stop and ask permission to conclude.

If you are in the middle of a statement, ask, Your honor, I see that my time has expired. May I briefly conclude? If a judge is asking you a question, say, Your honor, I see that my time has expired. May I answer and then briefly conclude? Answer the question as quickly as possible and then wrap it up. You will be docked points for dragging on here.

During Out Rounds: A bailiff will keep time Look at the timekeeper to acknowledge the timecard but do not nod or thank her. This is distracting to the panel.

CONCLUSION

If you see one minute remaining, try to move to your concise conclusion.

Incorporate your legal conclusions into the result you seek:

Thus, segregated school systems are unconstitutional regardless of the quality of the buildings and comparability of the teachers salaries. It is the inherent inequality of the separation itself which violates the mandate of the 14th Amendment. For these reasons, this court should reverse the court below and hold that the Arkansas statute is unconstitutional. Thank you.

If your time elapses, say: I see that my time has expired. May I briefly conclude?

Conclude BRIEFLY: One Sentence; or simply, For the foregoing reasons, Appellant asks this court to Reverse the holding of the court below. Thank you.

Include your Prayer for Relief here! Thank the court and sit down.

REBUTTAL

The Achilles Heel of many oralists. 1-2 Minutes.

With such a short round, advised to take only 1 Minute.

Keep it simple; focus on the main issues. Begin with, May it please the court, [Appellee argues]

Respond to major legal flaws or implications of Appellees position.

Advisable to have one or two points scripted out in advance.

You have a general idea of what opponent will say; prep responses. Do not make a list which you feel pressured to get through. BE RESPONSIVE !

ANSWERING QUESTIONS

At its heart, Appellate Argument is a conversation with the court. Go where the judge takes you with a question.
Dont say, Ill answer that later in my argument. Part of the skill set is the ability to answer a question directly and then circle back to your outlined argument.

Begin your answer with Yes or No whenever possible.

Dont be evasive. Know what you can concede and dont be afraid to do so. Judges are testing the limits of your argument.

You are under time constraints so be concise. Try to make transitions back to your argument fluid. Ask for clarification if you dont understand the judges question.

One trick is to say, As I understand your question, Justice Feistritzer and then restate the question. This buys you time to think of an answer.

MANNER TO THE COURT

Be deferential!

Judges can and will interrupt you at will. If a judge begins to speak or you are certain she is about to, STOP. Do not talk over a judge. Judges can often be belligerent, they are testing your ability to remain poised. Wherever possible, address a judge by name, Yes, Judge/Justice Feistritzer, you make a good point. Say Your honor if you dont know the judges name. Wait until the panel is ready before you begin your argument.

RESPECT TO YOUR OPPONENT

Please be polite when referring to your opponent.

Opposing Counsel Petitioner/Respondent characterizes this case as

Please do not accuse your opponent of lying. Please do not attack your opponent personally.

STANCE AT THE LECTERN

The goal is for the court to focus on your argument, not you. Stand up straight. Be steady. Place your hands on the sides of the lectern but do not lean on them. Some gesturing is acceptable but only to enhance a particularly compelling point. Otherwise, its distracting.

PACE, STYLE OF PRESENTATION

Focus on speaking clearly and slowly, without sounding unnatural or forced. Maintain eye contact whenever possible.

Hold eye contact with a judge for a sentence or two, then move to the next judge. When responding to a judges question, make eye contact with the entire panel. Have your opening and conclusion MEMORIZED.

Employ a formal, respectful manner of speaking.

ATTIRE

Business attire. Men:

Suit, dress shirt, tie, dress shoes. Suit, dress shirt, dress shoes.

Women:

Everyone:

Style your hair out of your face/eyes. Again, you want to be remembered for your argument, not your rad, hot-pink Converse and yellow Wayfarers.

PREPARING YOUR ARGUMENT

Practice explaining your case out loud, in simple terms. Focus on making positive points for your side rather than ranting about why the other side is wrong. Outline your points on 1 or 2 pieces of paper.

KEEP IT SIMPLE. Place this outline in your folder and refer to it as needed. Try not to look down if you can avoid it.

This is a conversation, not a speech! Anticipate questions on the weak points in your argument.

PREPARING YOUR ARGUMENT, CONTD

Use the cases!

Use the cases to build your interpretation of the law. Describe case facts to make comparisons, analogies. Refer to cases by name: As the 4th Circuit held in Pittman v. Hardt When referring to precedent in the sitting court, say, As this court held in Duke Law v. Vandenberg School of Dance Say the full name of the case the first time, then the shortened version throughout the remainder of your argument. Pittman directly addressed this issue and concluded

PREPARING YOUR ARGUMENT: WHAT TO BRING UP WITH YOU

Big Font! Bullet Points Avoid writing full sentences, you will read from your paper instead of engaging with the judges Ideas:

Table of Authorities from Appellate Brief Short case summaries with key facts List of facts from your case Dont worry too much about cites to the record, just know your facts

Roman numerals and/or numbers, to keep your bearings if you get lost!

PREPARING YOUR ARGUMENT, CONTD

Practice saying your Introduction and Conclusion aloud. Get in the habit of speaking slowly and clearly. Relax and have fun!