The way you choose to argue your motion or present your case should be influenced, in part, by the personality of the presiding judge. Visit the courtroom ahead of time to learn about your judge's courtroom quirks. Before a trial, talk to the judge about how he or she handles motions in limine, jury selection, opening statements, and the like.
You should also be aware of the judge's biographical information and prior rulings. For federal judges, a good resource is the "Federal Judges Biographical Database." If you want to spend some money, there's also the "Almanac of the Federal Judiciary." Other resources may be available at your nearest law library.
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