19 Oral and Written Presentations

Pleadings, formal requests (motions), and legal argument ordinarily should be presented initially in writing, but the parties should have the right to present oral argument on important substantive and procedural issues.

The final hearing must be held before the judges who are to give judgment.

The court should specify the procedure for presentation of testimony. Ordinarily, testimony of parties and witnesses should be received orally, and reports of experts in writing; but the court may, upon consultation with the parties, require that initial testimony of witnesses be in writing, which should be supplied to the parties in advance of the hearing.

Oral testimony may be limited to supplemental questioning following written presentation of a witness's principal testimony or of an expert's report.