R.I. Sup. Ct. R. Art. I, R. 24

(a) Content. During oral argument, attorneys should undertake to emphasize and

clarify the written argument appearing in the brief. The Supreme Court looks with

disfavor on any oral argument that is read from a prepared text.

(b) Order of Argument; Time. The appellant or petitioner shall be entitled to open

and conclude the argument. In cases on the show cause calendar for which oral

argument is allowed, each side shall be entitled to ten (10) minutes for presentation

of argument, and the appellant or petitioner shall be allowed an additional two (2)

minutes for rebuttal. In cases placed on the regular calendar for full briefing and oral

argument, each side shall be allowed thirty (30) minutes for presentation of

argument, and the appellant or petitioner shall be allowed ten (10) minutes for

rebuttal. In cases with more than one (1) party on a side, the times for argument

allocated to the appellant or the petitioner and to the appellee or respondent may be

shared by the parties wishing to present argument to the Supreme Court. Unless

authorized by order of the Supreme Court, only one (1) attorney may present

argument on behalf of a party. Where more than one (1) attorney argues on a side of

a case, it is the attorney’s responsibility to assure a fair division of the time allotted.