Preparing Like the Best

I previously reported how Chief Justice Roberts would write appellate briefs when he was in practice and considered by many as the "best" US Supreme Court advocate.

Now I can share how Chief Justice Roberts would prepare for oral argument (courtesy of Legal Writing Prof Blog and New York Law Journal). 

The article notes Roberts' "'compusive' approach," which included "three moot court sessions for each case and on a few occassions actually visiting client facotries and property to better understand the facts underlying a dispute."

In addition, "he would write his main arguments on index cards, shuffling them frequently to help him answer querstions from the Court in whatever order they arose, transitioning smoothly from one argument to the next."

The author, Jones Day partner Harold K. Gordon, offers his own oral argument advice as well.  It's a quick and beneficial read.