Rhetoric and Discourse in Supreme Court Oral Arguments

Rhetoric and Discourse in Supreme Court Oral Arguments PDF

Author: Ryan Malphurs

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-01-04

Total Pages: 248

ISBN-13: 1136182292

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While legal scholars, psychologists, and political scientists commonly voice their skepticism over the influence oral arguments have on the Court’s voting pattern, this book offers a contrarian position focused on close scrutiny of the justices’ communication within oral arguments. Malphurs examines the rhetoric, discourse, and subsequent decision-making within the oral arguments for significant Supreme Court cases, visiting their potential power and danger and revealing the rich dynamic nature of the justices’ interactions among themselves and the advocates. In addition to offering advancements in scholars’ understanding of oral arguments, this study introduces Sensemaking as an alternative to rational decision-making in Supreme Court arguments, suggesting a new model of judicial decision-making to account for the communication within oral arguments that underscores a glaring irony surrounding the bulk of related research—the willingness of scholars to criticize oral arguments but their unwillingness to study this communication. With the growing accessibility of the Court’s oral arguments and the inevitable introduction of television cameras in the courtroom, this book offers new theoretical and methodological perspectives at a time when scholars across the fields of communication, law, psychology, and political science will direct even greater attention and scrutiny toward the Supreme Court.

The Winning Oral Argument

The Winning Oral Argument PDF

Author: Bryan A. Garner

Publisher: West Academic Publishing

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 292

ISBN-13:

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In this eminently browsable book, Bryan A. Garner has collected and arranged the most important, interesting, and penetrating statements from judges and lawyers about how to conduct an oral argument. Each didactic principle is stated, briefly explained, and then illustrated with quotations from a dazzling array of sources, ancient and modern. Novices and veterans alike will find helpful advice in these pages, which systematically explain the subtleties of the art more lucidly than any previous work has done.

Point Well Made

Point Well Made PDF

Author: Nancy Harris Vaidik

Publisher: Aspen Publishing

Published: 2021-05-14

Total Pages: 316

ISBN-13: 1601569432

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Persuasive, engaging oral argument is breathtaking. Envision a self-assured attorney leading the court through the salient points of the case, deftly addressing questions from the bench, and steering those questions to the next relevant topic. It’s like watching a magician at work. Think that magic is beyond you? Think again. You can learn to be a persuasive oral advocate with the tips and advice in Point Well Made:Persuasive Oral Advocacy. Whether you are a first-year law student prepping for your Moot Court presentation, a public defender managing mountains of motions, an appellant or respondent on appeal before a panel, or a seasoned lawyer arguing in front of the US Supreme Court, you need Point Well Made. Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Nancy Vaidik and international legal communications coach Rebecca Diaz-Bonilla again bring their expertise to your fingertips. This completely revised and expanded edition of Point Well Made gets even more “under the hood” of judges, pointing out ways to recognize the reactions of your audience and effectively persuade. You will learn how to prepare the right notes for your hearings, so you are confident in your facts, theories, and themes. You will also learn to handle a judge’s questions, how to deal with multi-judge panels, when and how to pivot when the court is unpersuaded, and how to lay out your argument to the best advantage. In addition to helping you address the facts of your legal arguments, Point Well Made will enhance your presentation skills—how to deliver the motion with successful voice and body language techniques to capture the attention and trust of your listeners. Examples and exercises throughout the book help you practice your skills and learn from the experience of other attorneys. The wealth of knowledge you will gain by reading Point Well Made is quickly and easily reviewed, thanks to the many tables summarizing and highlighting the concrete tools the book provides. Unsure how to respond to a judge’s question? The tables spell out effective responses. Nervous about an upcoming argument? Review the tables for methods of relieving your jitters. Dialing into your first remote hearing? Point Well Made provides a step-by-step guide. Expanded to address appellate argument and remote hearings, the new edition of Point Well Made is a hands-on, practical guide that helps you develop persuasive themes, effectively convey your facts, simplify the law, gain insight into your particular judge(s) so you can customize your argument, and answer challenging questions with confidence.

The Little Book on Oral Argument

The Little Book on Oral Argument PDF

Author: Alan L. Dworsky

Publisher: Fred B. Rothman

Published: 1991

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780837705576

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This book is designed to introduce and cover its subject in a simple and entertaining, yet comprehensive, way. It contains chapters on such topics as style, substance, structure, questions, and rebuttal to explain effective approaches to this peculiar form of conversation.

Oral Arguments Before the Supreme Court

Oral Arguments Before the Supreme Court PDF

Author: Lawrence Wrightsman

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2008-04-16

Total Pages: 204

ISBN-13: 0199709432

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Of all the steps in the Supreme Court's decision-making process, only one is visible to the public: the oral arguments. By carefully analyzing transcripts of all the oral arguments available to the public, Professor Wrightsman provides empirical answers to a number of questions about the operation of oral arguments. This book provides a model for understanding the dynamics of judicial decision making from an empirical perspective.

Effective Lawyering

Effective Lawyering PDF

Author: Austen L. Parrish

Publisher:

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 188

ISBN-13:

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This book is for law students and practitioners who want to learn, or be reminded of, the fundamentals of legal writing and oral advocacy. Effective Lawyering concisely describes useful, yet often neglected, writing techniques. The book has pithy discussions of:(1) ways to avoid recurring, yet frequently overlooked, writing problems;(2) sensible approaches to writing common legal documents; and(3) methods for preparing an oral argument.In addition, it provides the reader with a series of checklists to turn to when undertaking a writing project or preparing for oral argument. The authors have designed the book for practicing attorneys as well as law students. The book is an ideal supplement for first-year and advanced legal writing courses, for upper-division skills courses, and for students participating in law journals or moot court programs. Short and to-the-point, the book's unique check-list approach will help law students and practitioners improve their writing methodically.

Brown V. Board

Brown V. Board PDF

Author: Leon Friedman

Publisher:

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 347

ISBN-13: 9781565849136

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In honor of the fiftieth anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision, this definitive resource presents complete transcripts of the original oral arguments before the Supreme Court in the Brown vs. Board of Education case, featuring the contributions of Thurgood Marshal, Hugo Black, and Felix Frankfurter, as well as introductory essays exploring the significance of the decision.