Oral argument in civil appeals

Oral argument 

During oral argument, you can:

• Clarify the points you made in your brief
• Tell the appellate court what you think is most important about your arguments
• Answer questions from the appellate court judges

Oral argument is not a time to restate the facts of the case or repeat parts of the brief.

The judges know what you said in your brief. Oral argument is the time to make sure that the court understands the key issues of the case by highlighting what you think is most important in your case or asking the judges if they have any questions you could answer.

If your case is in the appellate division of the superior court, you will have up to 10 minutes to present your argument (unless the court gives you more or less time). If your case is in the Court of Appeal, you will have up to 30 minutes to present your argument (unless the court gives you more or less time).

You do not have to participate in oral argument if you do not want to. You can let the appellate court know that you want to give up (waive) oral argument. 

For more information on oral argument in the appellate division (limited civil appeals), read rule 8.885 of the California Rules of Court.

For more information on oral argument in the Court of Appeal (unlimited civil appeals), read rule 8.256 of the California Rules of Court.

Decide if you want to have oral argument

When you are deciding whether to participate in oral argument, remember that the judges will have already read the briefs, so it is not necessary to read your brief to the judges. If everything you want to argue is in the brief, then you should think about not participating in (waiving) oral argument.

If you want to orally argue, be prepared and flexible — the judges may interrupt you (and the other side) to ask questions about your case and the laws and other cases that you cited or should have cited in your brief.

The fact that you orally argue a case does not affect how long it takes to get your decision. It will not delay your case. If only one side waives oral argument, the appellate court will hold oral argument with the other side. If everyone waives oral argument, the judges will consider your appeal based on the briefs and the record that were submitted.

Tell the court whether you want oral argument

Once all the briefs have been filed or the time to file them has passed, the court will send you a notice with the date for oral argument and will probably ask you if you want to have oral argument.

If you want to participate in oral argument, let the court know that when you receive the notice with the date for oral argument. In an unlimited civil appeal, if you do not let the Court of Appeal know that you want oral argument, the court will assume you do not and you will lose your chance to have oral argument.

If you don't want to have oral argument, you can waive it. To let the court know that you do not want to have oral argument:

• If the court sends you a notice asking you if you want to participate in oral argument and you do not respond, the court will assume you are waiving your oral argument.
• To waive oral argument in a limited civil appeal, you must let the appellate division know in writing that you want to waive oral argument.

In some juvenile appeals, you may have to serve and file a request for oral argument (if you want it). For example, if you are appealing the termination of your parental rights, you must request oral argument and file the request within 15 days after your reply brief is filed or is due.

Usually, people will start their oral argument before the appellate court with the words "May it please the court." If you want to save some of your time to respond to the other side, then you must tell the court this immediately. Even though the appellate court cannot give you special treatment just because you do not have a lawyer, you should still tell the judges that you are self-represented.

The judges will be familiar with your case and will have already read your briefs, so you do not need to restate the facts of the case or repeat parts of the brief. It is more helpful to just highlight what you think is most important in your case or ask the judges if they have any questions you could answer. The judges may interrupt you (and the other side) to ask questions about your case and authorities (published court decisions, constitutions, statutes, court rules or other legal authorities) that you cited or should have cited.

Stay calm and respectful, even if you get frustrated or are interrupted. Whenever you are asked a question, you should stop what you are saying and answer as directly as possible. If you do not know the answer, then just say so. Also, remember that you cannot present new arguments orally unless you discussed them in your brief.