Law Commons^™

From Expert Witnesses To ‘Fleeting Expletives’: The Supreme Court 2008-2009, Steven Smith

STEVEN R SMITH

The October 2008 Term of the United States Supreme Court began on October 6,2008. By the time the Term adjourned on June 29, 2009, the Court had changed or clarified the law in several important areas. (As we shall see, technically there was another argument in September 2009 as part of this Term.) The Court also seemed to foreshadow larger changes ahead, and saw Justice David Souter announce at the end of April that he would be stepping down from the Court. This article will review the major decisions of the Court during the Term. It will also analyze the …

The Solicitor General And The Evolution Of Activism, James L. Cooper

James M. Cooper

No abstract provided.

A Proposal For Improving Argument Before The United States Supreme Court, Louis Sirico

Louis J. Sirico Jr.

With rare exceptions, the U.S. Supreme Court allots thirty minutes to each side for oral argument. A review of transcripts and recordings of oral arguments confirms that the Court poses questions and makes comments with remarkable frequency. When students and lay people listen to the recordings, they may remark on the constant interruptions and view the Justices as rude interrogators. With the many questions that the Justices have and the limited time available, the advocates have little opportunity to present their arguments fully. The Justices may interrupt counsel with questions concerning the law or the relevant facts of a case. …

Opening An Oral Argument Before The Supreme Court: The Decline Of Narrative's Role, Louis J. Sirico Jr.

Louis J. Sirico Jr.