Oral Arguments

Public recordings from federal courts in selected civil-rights cases.

In many federal cases, courts make audio or video recordings of oral arguments available to the public. Those recordings provide a direct window into how judges, counsel, and sometimes government officials discuss the constitutional and civil-rights questions at the heart of a case. This page collects links to those publicly accessible recordings for selected matters handled by Jump Start Legal Justice Center.

Recordings listed here are hosted by courts or authorized platforms. Links from this page direct you to those official sources.

How These Recordings Relate To Case Pages

Each oral argument listed here should also appear on the Case Detail page for that matter, alongside selected filings and a procedural history. If you want more context about what you are hearing, visit the Case Detail page for a timeline, summary of claims, and links to key orders.

Featured Oral Arguments

You can browse oral argument recordings by case, court, or issue area. Not every case will have a recording, and not every hearing is captured or posted by the courts. When no recording is available, the case will not appear here.

The list below includes oral argument recordings that courts have made publicly accessible in cases handled by the firm. Each entry links outward to the official recording.

Virginia Court of Appeals

1420-24-2

American Muslims for Palestine v. Miyares

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals

23-5243

Farahi v. FBI

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals

23-5074

Jibril v. Mayorkas (Jibril II)

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals

22-5155

Magassa v. TSA

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

22-501315

Abdullah v. Paxton

March 9, 2023

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

21-56206

Elsharkawi v. USA (Elsharkawi II)

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

21-35700

Magassa v. Mayorkas

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

21-2022

Mowery v. Nat'l Geospacial-Intelligence Agency and the CIA

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

20-10995

Ghedi v. Mayorkas

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals

20-5202

Jibril v. Mayorkas (Jibril I)

Sept. 20, 2021

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

20-3233

Boim v. American Muslims for Palestine

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

20-55323

Khalil v. Cissna

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

18-2377 & 18-2378

HIRA Educ. Servs. V. Augustine

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

19-56448

Elsharkawi v. USA (Elsharkawi I)

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals

19-5362

Muthana v. Pompeo

What You May Notice In Oral Arguments

Oral arguments focus on the legal questions that judges want to explore, not on every fact or detail in the record. Listeners will often hear:

  • Judges asking how a rule or practice fits with existing precedent


  • Clarification of how statutes such as 42 U.S.C. § 1983, RFRA, or RLUIPA operate in a specific setting


  • Discussion of standards such as strict scrutiny, reasonableness, or qualified immunity


  • Questions about the practical impact of potential rulings on future cases and community members

Oral arguments do not include confidential client communications and are not a substitute for the written briefs and orders that define the legal outcome.

Important Limits

Links to oral argument recordings are provided as a public service and educational resource.

  • Do not include every court appearance or hearing in a case


  • Do not replace the official docket, filings, or written opinions


  • Do not constitute legal advice or commentary on any listener’s specific situation

Every matter depends on its own facts, procedural posture, and applicable law. Past arguments and rulings do not guarantee any particular result in another case.

Questions After Listening To An Argument

If an oral argument raises questions about how similar issues might apply to you or your organization, a focused review of your specific facts can help determine whether federal court may be appropriate and what options might exist.

This website is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Viewing this site or contacting Jump Start Legal Justice Center does not create an attorney client relationship. No attorney client relationship exists unless and until a written fee agreement is signed. Attorney licensed in Texas. Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.