Chapter 13 Oral Argument

LibraryHandling Appeals in Arkansas (2015 Ed.)

ORAL ARGUMENT

Judge D.P. Marshall Jr.

A. Introduction............................................................................................................... 13-2

B. Thoughts On The Rule........................................................................................... 13-2

1. How Do I Request Oral Argument?....................................................... 13-2

2. Will the Court Grant Oral Argument?................................................... 13-3

3. Should I Request Oral Argument?.......................................................... 13-3

4. Getting A Date.............................................................................................. 13-4

C. The Unwritten Protocol.......................................................................................... 13-5

1. That Morning—The Preliminaries.......................................................... 13-5

2. That Morning—Time.................................................................................. 13-6

3. That Morning—The Court of Appeals.................................................. 13-7

4. That Morning—Miscellaneous................................................................ 13-7

D. Ten Suggestions For Oral Argument................................................................. 13-8

1. “Well begun is half done.”........................................................................ 13-8

2. “Strike for the jugular, and let the rest go.”......................................... 13-9

3. “The Court does not know the facts, and it wants to.”..................... 13-9

4. “Rejoice when the Court asks questions.”.......................................... 13-10

5. “Brief-writing is Mozart; oral argument is jazz.”............................. 13-10

6. “Be quick and swing slightly up.”........................................................ 13-11

7. “A bald head is better than a curly wig.”........................................... 13-12

8. “There are some things you say and do you can

never take back.”..................................................................................... 13-12

9. “Hurry along and don’t take no cutoffs.”.......................................... 13-13

10. “Never miss a good chance to shut up.”............................................ 13-13

E. Conclusion 13-14

________

A. Introduction

You threaded your case through the eye of ARAP–Civ 4 by filing a timely notice of appeal. You filed your record on time. You abstracted the transcripts in the record necessary for the Court to understand the questions on appeal. You included the key pleadings, papers, orders, exhibits, and your notice of appeal in your addendum. You wrote a brief that sings while it marches. Are you done? No. Now you must decide whether to request oral argument. And if you or counsel for another party makes that request, then you must prepare for your conversation with our Supreme Court or Court of Appeals. Here are the particulars.

B. Thoughts On The Rule

1. How Do I Request Oral Argument?

Arkansas Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Rule 5-1 governs oral arguments. Oral argument is not automatic. One of the parties must request it or the appellate court may set it sua sponte. A party’s request must come in a certain way: you must ask for oral argument in a letter to the Clerk of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, and your request must be separate from any brief or transmittal letter. ASCR 5-1(a). The Clerk will file your request letter. If you request oral argument only in your brief, then the Clerk will disregard your request.

When do you send the letter? “Contemporaneously” with your brief. ASCR 5-1(a). If you miss the deadline, all is not lost. File a motion requesting oral argument.

Do not depend on the opposing party’s oral-argument request. If you want oral argument, then send your letter to the Clerk. The other party’s request may not be timely or in proper form. Moreover, the party requesting oral argument is the master of that request; a party can withdraw the request up to the time oral argument is scheduled. If you want oral argument, therefore, do not risk your opportunity on the other side changing its mind and deciding to submit the case on the briefs.

2. Will the Court Grant Oral Argument?

Not necessarily. Rule 5-1(a) creates three classes of cases where the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals will deny an oral-argument request: (1) appeals that are frivolous; (2) appeals where the dispositive issues have already been decided authoritatively; and (3) appeals where the briefs and record adequately present the issues. ASCR 5-1(a). In general, the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals are granting fewer oral...

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