Oral Argument: Transformation, Troubles, and Trends

This article explores the dynamic transformation of oral argument from early in American history, its markedly changed significance relative to briefs, and where trends and innovative ideas, including some recently taking root in Tennessee, may take this enduring tradition in the future. To understand the transformation of oral argument and contemporary attitudes about it, one must be familiar with its origins and the crucial role it played in the decision-making process in England and in the formative years of the United States