Taught by an appellate practitioner and former justice of
the Wisconsin Supreme Court, this class will highlight the good and the bad of
appellate advocacy, as seen through the eyes of a former appellate
practitioner, trial attorney, trial judge and appellate judge.  Students
will explore what goes into some of the practical and strategic decisions that
have to be made in identifying what issues to litigate on appeal, as well as
what issues to abandon.  Students will also learn what the judges look for
in effective brief writing, oral advocacy in an appellate setting, and what
will catch a justice’s eye when drafting a petition for review.  The
instructor will also present a behind-the-scenes look into how decisions are
made by the appellate court.  The class will be a three credit seminar,
limited to 16 students.  Grading will be based on a number of projects,
including the drafting of an appellate brief, arguing the briefed case before the
class, and classroom participation.  Students will also have an
opportunity to view an actual argument before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and
then critique it.