Legal Commentary

Nervousness at Oral Argument

By Eugene Volokh

I was a bit nervous during my oral argument, perhaps because it was just the second argument I?ve ever done, and perhaps because it was just because having to argue a real case in front of real judges is pretty daunting.

Fortunately, I remembered that a judge once told me it?s good to be a bit nervous at oral argument, or at least better than to come across as glib and a know-it-all. Maybe some might disagree on this ? but at least it kept me from being nervous about being nervous, in addition to just being nervous.

Full post as published by The Volokh Conspiracy on December 03, 2009 (boomark / email).