[blindLaw] Oral Arguments

Tue Mar 14 18:17:31 UTC 2023

Matthew:

I'm emailing you off-list.

Warmth,
Sanho

On 3/14/23, Brian Unitt via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi Matthew,
>
> I will share some things I have done over the past 40 years, and apologize
> for the length of this reply. In the end though, what is the least
> distracting for you is what you should insist on.
>
> Since I started practicing before computers were accessible, I used a slate
> and stylus for all my notes. The trick I learned in college and law school
> was not to use braille paper, but to use notebook paper, or later on, legal
> pads. That paper isn't as durable, but my experience was that it lasted
> through exams, and in practice through the conclusion of the case they
> related to. In the early '00s I had a PacMate from Freedom Scientific and
> that was great until I wore it out. I experimented with several iPad and
> Braille display combos but was never comfortable with the reliability of the
> setup, too many potential failure points. You don't want to be standing in
> front of the court messing with your technology instead of making your
> argument. I now have a Focus 40 Blue display and often use the scratchpad
> function for my outline. I set the righthand rocker to display panning and
> the left to paragraph, and I separate my main points with two hard returns
> so I can skip through them by paragraph with left Rocker if I need to change
> course base on the questioning. But mostly I have gone back to slate and
> stylus. There's no battery to die and no Bluetooth connection to drop.
>
> To me, the key to an effective presentation is to have most of what you
> might need to tell the court in your head. Only use your notes for an
> outline of main points to kkeep you on track, and to reference key quotes
> (short ones) and citations as needed.
>
> If using your laptop will make you most comfortable and able to most
> effectively do your job, then you should insist on it. I once had court
> security tell me I couldn't take my PacMate into the courtroom because of a
> no electronics policy, and many years before that in the same court they
> tried to confiscate my stylus. In both cases I told them they were the tools
> I used to represent my client, and asked them to take it up with the
> Presiding Justice. Security was overridden both times.
>
> Best of luck to you, oral argument is to me the most enjoyable part of
> appellate advocacy.
>
> Brian
> Brian C. Unitt
> Certified Specialist in Appellate Law
> By the State Bar of California
>
> Law Office of Brian C. Unitt
> 6185 Magnolia Ave, PMB 40
> Riverside, CA 92506
> P: 951-682-7030
> E: brianunitt at holsteinlaw.com
>
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Matthew Smith via
> BlindLaw
> Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2023 6:41 AM
> To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Matthew Smith <matthewj.smith1914 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [blindLaw] Oral Arguments
>
> Goodmorning,
> I am currently preparing to give my first oral argument for legal writing. I
> am not able to use my laptop during the actual arguments but, I was
> wondering what alternatives are there to supplementing that use. I would
> prefer to use an electronic due to not having access the ability of
> producing braill notes  on campus. I also wanted to know what was an
> approach to memorizing the arguments while answering questions on the
> material. During practice I attempted to memorize all of the argument but
> was unsuccessful. Are there any tips about managing your place in your
> argument wile answering questions. I thank you in advance your help.
>
> Matthew J. Smith
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-- 
He/Him