appellate argument
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Appellate Argument. GETTING READY TO GET READY. How to make argument all it can be. Think of argument as a reasoned dialogue about the issues Make a tabbed binder Minimizes materials in hand at lectern Argument outline, noting key record/case cites Copies of key documents and statutes - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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APPELLATE ARGUMENT
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GETTING READY TO GET READY
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HOW TO MAKE ARGUMENT ALL IT CAN BE• Think of argument as a reasoned dialogue about the issues
• Make a tabbed binder
• Minimizes materials in hand at lectern
• Argument outline, noting key record/case cites
• Copies of key documents and statutes
• Case briefs if there are many relevant cases, or key pages from key cases
• Break down by issue if there’s more than one
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GET READY
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PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE• Know the record and cases
• Play the devil’s advocate yourself
• Get someone else to play the devil’s advocate
• Identify and prepare answers for all the “tough” questions
• Moot your case
• Rehearse your argument
• Rehearse variations: improvise, adapt, overcome
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(the right one)
(on time)
GET TO THE COURTHOUSE
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STAY READYThey see everything!
• Be professional in manner and speech at all times
• Be nice to the staff
• Pay attention to how the calendar is progressing
• Be ready to approach as soon as case preceding yours ends
• Have all your materials gathered up
• Stay focused – don’t take a nap
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WALKING UP
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WALK TALL• Approach counsel table
• without undue delay
• quickly and with purpose
• Know which side is yours
• Have a plan with your team – no scrambling around
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GETTING SET
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THIS IS NOT MOVE-IN DAY
On reaching counsel table
• Organize yourself and sit down quickly
• Keep “spreading out” to a minimum (you won’t be there long)
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KEEP IT TOGETHER
While waiting at counsel table
• Sit in a state of readiness — tall, at attention and looking at the panel
• Sit at attention, listening, taking notes if necessary
• Do not react with facial expressions, shaking head or other body language
• If you are already agitated at counsel table, your demeanor and voice will already be skewed when you reach the lectern
• There should be an absolute minimum of communication between co-counsel while waiting at counsel table; discretely pass a note if necessary
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“WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM …”
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DON’T PANIC!• Minimize what you take to the lectern
• You should already have your materials honed to the essentials and organized for immediate access
• Rarely need more than an outline or thin notebook
• Stand tall, hands at sides or resting lightly on lectern
• Don’t lean on or over lectern
• Look at the panel
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GET GOING
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THIS IS YOUR TIME TO SHINE• Maintain eye contact with judges as much as possible
• Almost never read from a script
• (but you can glance at an outline to be sure you’ve covered all your points)
• Almost never read from exhibits or cases
• If a case or exhibit is that important, it should be quoted in your brief
• Refer to the page of your brief
• Almost never use a visual aid
• Anything that important should be in your brief – refer to that page
• Anyway, the panel is too far away to see it
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BE COOL
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PROJECT CALM CONFIDENCE• The look of an argument comes down to face, hands, and body
• The sound, of course, comes down to voice
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FACE• Eyes:
• Maintain eye contact with each member of the panel. Don’t scan. Focus on individuals.
• You can favor the question-asker, but don’t turn your attention exclusively to her. Do not favor the male over the female judges.
• Eyebrows:
• The most obvious give-away of tension. Brows up communicates fear or surprise. Brows down communicates anger. Maintain “neutral” eyebrows.
• Head:
• Position head to look forward. Do not keep head down, buried in your notes. Do not tilt head back and “look down your nose” at the judges.
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HANDS• Gestures are good if they communicate, bad if they distract.
• If you naturally talk with your hands, then keep gesturing. If you do not talk with your hands, leave your hands on the podium – relaxed, not grasping the side of the podium as if holding on for dear life.
• To not distract, keep gestures to a modified strike zone: below the shoulders and “over the plate.”
• Do not clasp your hands, which is a “tell” for tension and suggests that you are begging. Keep your palms facing downward or inward. Palms-up gestures also give the impression of begging.
• Do not point at the panel – this is an aggressive gesture.
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BODY• Relaxed and upright.
• “Lengthen” yourself. Imagine you are suspended from a silver thread.
• Stand strong.
• Feet shoulder-width apart.
• Feet facing forward or very slightly splayed, as feels comfortable.
• Knees not locked.
• Once you are in this position, don’t move your feet or your knees unless to consciously shift position. This will eliminate “sway.”
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VOICE• Eliminate tension in your voice
• Drop eyebrows to neutral
• Allow your jaw and throat to “fall”
• Relax the diaphragm. Can’t relax? Jut out your belly. (You have a podium in front of you. No one will see.)
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BE REAL COOL
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ENGAGE IN RESPECTFUL, PROFESSIONAL DISCOURSE …• Don’t let anything communicate that you think the judges are idiots
• Arrogance will annoy them and detract from the substance
• Don’t make personal attacks on your opponent
• The judges don’t care
• They don’t like it
• It is districting and never helpful
• Anyway:
• They already know you hate each other …
• … and don’t care
• If it’s important to the appeal the opinion will deal with it
• If you need to point out an incorrect statement, say something like “counsel is in error,” state what is correct, and leave it at that
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… NO MATTER HOW FRUSTRATED YOU ARE• Stay calm
• Maintain a reasoned tone of voice
• Speak with conviction
• Modulate for emphasis …
• … but guard against shrillness and bitterness
• Be self-effacing
• They’re never stupid – YOU are
• If court doesn’t seem to be “getting it,” be diplomatic: “I can tell I haven’t been clear enough, so let me come at it this way”
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KEEP GOING
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EVEN IF THEY’RE DESTROYING YOUR CASE• Pay attention to what the court is asking
• Answer the question now, not on your schedule
• If the court highlights what it thinks the issue is, address that issue first
• Pay attention to how the court is reacting
• Don’t waste time on an issue that you’ve clearly won
• “It appears the court thoroughly understands issue A. Unless court has questions, I’ll turn to issue B.”
• If you get a softball question, be happy for the gift and maximize it
• If they trampled appellant, take the hint as the respondent
• “It appears the court thoroughly understands the case. Unless the court has questions, I’m prepared to submit.”
• If you tell the court you think the issues are fully briefed and you don’t need to add anything, don’t add anything
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WALKING OFF
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LIKE YOU NAILED IT• Stay calm and controlled
• Leave the lectern and counsel table…
• … with dispatch and a minimal amount of shuffling
• Don’t start chatting with co-counsel or your client until outside the courtroom
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RELAX!