Don’t Get Caught Breaking Federal Circuit’s Argument Rules (1)

Respect the judges and don’t waste their time: That’s the message from the Federal Circuit to attorneys who argue before the court.

The court recently issued guidance to attorneys that they shouldn’t interrupt judges during arguments, and should assume they’re familiar with the facts of the case.

Litigators also should “answer questions directly” and “avoid pejoratives,” the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said.

The court warned attorneys seated at counsel tables not to “make inappropriate facial gestures nor engage in exaggerated gesticulation.”

The specific guidelines for counsel during oral argument are new, though some appeared in other ...