COURTROOM ETIQUETTE Last time I went to court I seen a guy walk in with his hat on. I shook my head, I was sure that his attorney did not educate him on courtroom etiquette and protocol. You never know when you may end up in a situation where you have to go to court, so please allow me to share with you some rules of the courtroom. The first thing to be sure of before you walk out of the house is your attire. Are you wearing something that is business appropriate? It’s important that you dress business professional. The way you present yourself in a courtroom speaks volumes about your character and how serious you are about your case. You will be judged before you open your mouth, therefore it is critical for you to master this first essential element of courtroom etiquette. Set a positive first impression by arriving on time with your cell phone and or other electronic device(s) turned off. The last thing you want is to be embarrassed because your cell phone went off in court and this is actually the best case scenario. Judges have dismissed people from their courtroom for having on electronic devices. Usually there is a sign before you go into the courtroom telling you to turn off your devices or to leave them outside of court. Below I have included a list of a few other self-explanatory courtroom etiquette guidelines along with proper courtroom protocol: • Do not eat, drink or chew gum • Sit quietly • Be polite to the judge, opposing counsel, and court staff. • Rise when the judge and jury enter and leave the courtroom. • Stand when speaking to the judge, making or meeting an objection, or questioning a witness. • Do not interrupt others while they are talking. • Refer to the judge as “Your Honor.” Regardless of your reason for being in court, you will find that if you follow these guidelines to respect the courtroom you will receive the same amount of respect in return. Usually we get back what we put out into the universe. If you’re a positive person who carries yourself well and speaks respectfully to others, you will get positive energy and feedback in return.
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 20:30:18 +0000
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