One in which the contenders were orators. For the orators of old did not contest all the lawsuits, only some. But others say that an oratorical indictment is one directed against orators, when one of them had written or said or done something illegal;[1] just as one speaks of a committeemanly indictment against a committeeman, and a chairmanly indictment against a chairman.[2]
Rhetoric is 'knowledge of just things'.[3] But a peculiarity of rhetorical boldness is not to refuse but to contribute, additionally, a persuasive explanation of the facts.[4]
Damascius says about Isidore: "and he did not pay any significant attention to rhetoric, and he was cautious and hostile when it came to its swagger and posturing".[5]
An oratorical indictment[6] seems to be the name for the indictment brought against an orator who had written [or] said or done something against the law; and perhaps the reason some indictments are called oratorical is that the indictments of the orators are brought under different laws.
[Note] that dialectic differs from rhetoric;[7] and look under "treatments in detail".[8]