Appellate Argument
Observation Opportunities

Each student in my section is required to:

1. attend a minimum of two appellate arguments during the course of this semester and
2. write a few paragraphs about that experience.

One oral argument consists of an argument by the attorney for the appellant and another argument by an attorney for the appellee.  This assignment is due in my mailbox no later than November 16 at 10:00 a.m. Please see your syllabus for more details.  Below are some suggestions of ways to fulfill this assignment.

The Arizona Court of Appeals, Division Two

Division Two of the Arizona Court of Appeals is located downtown at 400 W. Congress.  It can be fun to sit in a real courtroom and watch local attorneys argue appeals.  Unfortunately, the court, hears few oral arguments.

You can find the argument schedule on the court's web site: www.apltwo.ct.state.az.us/newcalendar.html.  The last time I looked, the only argument the court had scheduled this month was Brumgard v. Wendel on Wednesday, October 31 at 9:00a.m.  Call before you go.  Cases often settle on the eve of the argument.  Also, be aware that you CANNOT attend telephonic arguments.

The Arizona Supreme Court

The Arizona Supreme Court will be holding arguments at the College of Law beginning at 1:30p.m. on November 1.  The court will hear two (instead of the orginally announced three) arguments and then have a question and answer session at 3:30 p.m.(following the last argument).  On Thursday, October 25, there will be a clipboard at the Library Reserve Desk for Persuasive Communication students to sign up for a reserved space to watch up to two of these arguments.  I think there will be room for everybody.  But, just in case, you might sign up early.

National Moot Court Competition Finals

At the Library Reserve Desk, there should be one copy of the 1998 National Moot Court Competition Final Arguments.  The finals were held in New York City.  This video is a great example of four outstanding student arguments.  Two attorneys argue for the appellant (each arguing a different issue) and two attorneys argue for the appellee (similarly arguing different issues).  If you watch this tape, it will count as two arguments.

At your convenience, you may check out the video and watch it in the appropriate library study room. 

Florida Supreme Court

The Florida Supreme Court offers live gavel-to-gavel coverage of its oral arguments through the web site www.wfsu.org/gavel2gavel/main.htm.  The next oral arguments are scheduled Nov. 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9.  I have not used this web site, but believe you will need Real Player installed on your computer to access the live coverage.  For a free copy of Real Player 8 Basic go to www.real.com/player/index.html.  Find the "Real Player 8 Basic" link and download it!