Don't cite too many individual cases in open court.

• Jurisdiction: United States

Section 119. Don't cite too many individual cases in open court.—In a brief, every proposition of law must be supported by authorities, but this is not only unnecessary in open court, it is generally undesirable to attempt to rest every proposition on a particular case. Argue principles; see Section 100 (d), supra.

The following standards may safely be followed for oral presentation:

Generally, do not cite any cases by name in support of undisputed or hornbook propositions.

Again, do not bother to cite cases by name in support of every subsidiary proposition of your presentation.

Where, however, the immediate subject-matter of a principal heading has not come up recently or involves a somewhat obscure point, it is well to cite a few of the leading, landmark cases as you go along, by way of reassuring the court that you are not just spouting law by ear but have solid authority to support you. Remember —just a few, not the sort of collection you may properly set out and discuss in your brief.

If the field you are discussing is one in which there have been a number of recent decisions, it is generally safe to assume...