- "only 14 states give parties to an appeal a right to oral argument. In all other states and in the federal system, the appellate courts have authority to dispense with oral argument"
- The effectiveness and value of oral argument in California could be improved if the courts would expand or limit oral argument as befits the given case.
- Effectiveness also increases when courts provide a preview of the court's thinking via a focus letter or tentative opinion.
- Oral argument is valuable and "can and does change minds about the proper outcome of an appeal."
SCAN: News and resources for Southern California appellate lawyers, featuring the Second and Fourth District Courts of Appeal and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Monday, October 22, 2018
Some Thoughts about Oral Argument
The Summer/Fall 2018 ABTL-Los Angeles newsletter contains an article by H&L's David Axelrad titled Some Thoughts About Oral Argument in the California Court of Appeal. Here are some tidbits: