forensic oratory

Forensic oratory refers to public speaking used in courts of law or for public discussion and debate. It is a form of rhetoric, which is the art of using words effectively to persuade. Historically, forensic oratory was crucial in ancient Athens, where litigants often had to argue their own cases in court.1234

Key figures like Cicero in ancient Rome and later advocates such as Thomas Erskine in England were renowned for their forensic skills, defending individuals and contributing to legal liberties. This type of oratory relies on argumentation, rhetorical devices, and appeals to logic, emotion, and the speaker's credibility to influence an audience's behavior or strengthen their convictions.3