How long does it take the appellate courts to rule on cases after oral argument?
That varies widely by court. Let’s start with the Fourth Circuit, which is the easiest to answer, because the answer is, “No one knows.” You might get a ruling six weeks after oral argument, or a year later. (Year-long delays are rare, but it happens sometimes.) In the Court of Appeals, you should see a ruling within about 60 days after the date you argue the case. In some cases it might take a little longer; but you won’t see a year-long delay except in a truly extraordinary situation.
