Many of us have been in the following situation. You complete your oral argument in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, walk out of the courtroom, shake hands with your opponent and turn to your client who asks the inevitable question: “So when will the court rule?”

7th Circuit SpotlightThe honest answer—“whenever it is ready”—is not very helpful. Your client has paid you a lot of money for handling the appeal and expects a little more wisdom than that. So, what can you tell the client?