Argue like some really good laywers

It doesn't matter where you stand on the California Prop 8/gay marriage debate; regardless of your position, you have to acknowledge there's some really good lawyering going on, at least on the side fighting the amendment (and I think on the other side too, as it seems the attorneys are doing their best with little, if anything, to argue).

A few links related to the case: The first is an interesting article by legal writing guru Ross Guberman. Titled "Five Ways to Write Like Ted Olson and David Boies," he uses a June 2009 brief they wrote in the case to extract some solid drafting advice.

The second (video below) is an interview Boies did this summer on how he cross-examined (and destroyed) the defense witnesses.



The third is a great clip from a Chris Wallace/Fox News interview of Ted Olson, in which Olson lays down some wicked mooting skills. My favorite part: At the end of the "round," Wallace defeatedly proclaims, "I gotta say, after your appearance here today, I don't see how you ever lost a case in the Supreme Court." A student could only wish for such a critique. Click here to watch...