Answer the Question

 An effective oral argument can illuminate critical points and new perspectives that transcend the briefs, writes Christian Ketter in his August Illinois Bar Journal article, “Answer the Question!” But too often, Ketter argues, one clenches defeat from the jaws of victory by refusing to grapple with the hypothetical bounds of the unknown. And rarely does a precedent present itself with perfectly aligned facts—hence, the nature of appellate review. Thus, hypotheticals are essential for the court to understand the broader implications of its potential decision. Ketter goes on to explore the utility and power of hypothetical arguments and their role in appellate advocacy.

 Read the July Illinois Bar Journal’s article, "Answer the Question"