Rule 9.18 Oral Arguments

If you want to argue your case in person before a judge, you need to know that the court doesn't have to let you. Judges get to decide whether they want to hear spoken arguments on a case, and they can say no if they don't think it's needed.

This means the court can make its decision based only on the written documents you and the other side have filed. If the judge feels those papers give enough information to rule on the matter, there may be no in-person hearing at all. So don't count on getting a chance to speak directly to the judge. If oral argument really matters to your case, ask for it clearly in your filing, but understand the final call belongs to the court.