Did they seem to take sides?

Assignment Instructions

Listen to the Oral Arguments of the left tree panel on the website.

Your assignment is to listen to the oral argument of the attorneys before the court for District of Columbia v Heller, 554 US 570 (2008) then write a one page double-spaced opinion paper on your impression. Did the attorneys argue their point well? Did one do better than the other? Were they able to get their statement out without being interrupted? Which Justice was dominant? Was it clear from what direction they were asking – conservative? liberal? Did they seem to take sides? Next you are to read the short brief from oyez to see exactly what the holding was for the case and which Justices were in the majority or dissent. Was this how you thought they would rule? Finally, look at the background to see what implications this case might have after you finish your paper.

​The oral argument and brief for District of Columbia v Heller, 554 US 570 (2008) can be found at

https://www.oyez.org/cases/2007/07-290

The background and details can be found at http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/dc-v-heller/.

Remember, I am looking for your impressions of the workings of the Court, not your opinion on the holding! You should only use the sources given for this assignment. The only source on the submission should be the oral argument for the case itself.