Dictionary

hot bench en · NOUN

Meanings

1. A judge or panel of judges who are very active in asking questions during an oral argument.
   • They have a reputation for being a hot bench. They come in knowing the case, sometimes better than the lawyers. 1995, Aspen Publishers Editorial, Almanac of the Federal Judiciary, page 39:
   • Is it a hot bench or a cold bench? Do the particular judges on the panel ask a lot of questions? 1993, William H. Wolff, James A. Brogan, Appellate Practice and Procedure in Ohio, page 53:
   • David Moskovitz, a commissioner who served under Bradford, was notorious for introducing questions and issues and otherwise being a hot bench during hearings. 2009, Michael J. Kelly, Lives of Lawyers Revisited: Transformation and Resilience in the Organizations of Practice, page 82:
   • When arguing before a hot bench flexibility is of the greatest importance. 1983, Edward Domenic Re, Brief writing and oral argument, page 159:

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