IndyBar: Mastering Oral Argument at the Seventh Circuit

Donald E. Morgan, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

As far as I’m concerned, arguing an appeal is the most fun a person can have in the practice of law. But preparing to deliver an effective argument is a lot of work. And the entire exercise can be stressful.

All of that—the fun, the preparation, and the stress—gets amplified when you’re preparing to argue at the Seventh Circuit. The court’s judges are famously prepared and active during oral argument. You arrive at the Dirksen Courthouse for argument still unsure which of those judges will be sitting on your panel. And you’re often delivering your argument at the front of a room filled with lawyers working on all the other cases being argued during the day’s session.

How can you use the stress to drive the preparation so you can have the fun? IndyBar is here to help. With significant assistance from Hon. Doris L. Pryor, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, we have organized a “can’t miss” program bringing four sitting Seventh Circuit judges to Indianapolis for a discussion aimed at demystifying oral argument. We have designed the program to benefit those who do not regularly argue appeals and seasoned appellate advocates alike. To that end, our judicial panelists will be joined by a group of practitioners ranging from experienced appellate advocates to a prolific Indianapolis trial lawyer who recently argued at the Seventh Circuit for the first time.

If you can bring yourself to endure my moderating, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from a remarkable group:

• Hon. Kenneth Ripple, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

• Hon. Thomas Kirsch, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

• Hon. Doris Pryor, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

• Hon. Joshua Kolar, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

• Jane Dall Wilson, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath

• Rachana Fischer, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana

• John Kautzman, Ruckelshaus Kautzman Blackwell Bemis & Duncan

The goal is simple: we want to help you trade intimidation for confidence the next time (or even the first time) you appear in the Seventh Circuit—one of the most actively engaged appellate courts in the country.

I hope you will join us at the downtown Indianapolis Hyatt Regency on Tuesday, April 29. The 90-minute CLE panel discussion will begin at 1:30 p.m. with a reception to follow at 3 p.m. You can sign up by visiting www.indybar.org/7th.•

Donald “Donnie” E. Morgan is senior counsel with Taft Settinius & Hollister LLP. Donnie is an appellate advocate, litigator, and advisor to public-sector and public-sector-adjacent clients. He has experience at all levels of the federal and Indiana judicial systems—including work on appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court and the Indiana Supreme Court. Donnie is an active member of IndyBar, a graduate of Bar Leader Class 13, and is an IndyBar Foundation Distinguished Fellow. He received his undergraduate degree from Indiana University and his JD From Berkley Law School.