Oral Arguments

A Levels Academy Islamabad

Transcript

00:00Sure, when you hear the word argument, you usually think of one thing—fighting.

00:06But in a courtroom, the word argument has a different shade of meaning.

00:11It's more of a persuasion on behalf of one side or the other.

00:15And an oral argument is a specific version of this.

00:19Oral arguments are conversations between a judge or judges and a litigant, in which the

00:24litigant gives the legal reasons as to why their side should prevail in a case.

00:29In an appeal, oral arguments can contain additions to what's contained in the original

00:34written briefs given to the judges beforehand.

00:37It also gives the litigant opportunity to clear up mistakes or misunderstandings in

00:42the brief itself.

00:44The appellant—the person initiating the appeal—is the first one to speak.

00:49Then the appellee.

00:50For certain appeals, these are called petitioner and respondent.

00:55Whether it's an appellate court or civil court, each side gets their turn, and an equal

01:00allotment of time in front of the judge.

01:02There is even a little time given after for rebuttals.

01:05Now, the judge's role when hearing oral arguments is much more active than at a trial

01:10procedure.

01:11Whereas, in a trial, judges intervene only when asked by a litigant.

01:16It is typical for a judge in an oral argument to interrupt and ask questions throughout

01:21of their own accord.

01:23Oral arguments are not automatically required by the right to due process, and it is generally

01:28up to the court whether to allow them or not.

01:31Being able to handle direct questions from judges will improve your chances in an oral

01:35argument.

01:37LegalYou offers all the help you need to accomplish this.

01:40LegalYou.

01:41Because the courtroom is not just for lawyers anymore.