2018 COURT CALENDAR & COURT ETIQUETTE
COURT ETIQUETTE
Members of the public are welcome to attend court proceedings. People who appear in court must, however, observe these and other conventions of courteous, orderly behavior. Important business is conducted in court and outcome of proceedings can have a dramatic effect on the lives of those involved. For those reasons, everyone in court is expected to behave reasonably and respond to any instructions given by the judge or court officials. Failure to follow some simple guidelines could lead to a finding of contempt of court, which may result in a fine or even imprisonment.Tips for good courtroom etiquette include:
• A. Be punctual – All lawyers and other court users having business before the court should be seated in the courtroom before the hearing time. Arrive in good time for your case and ask court staff where to sit.
• B. Do not come to court under the influence of drink or drugs.
C. Dress appropriately and with dignity. Be clean, neat and tidy in your appearance and grooming. Wear clothes that would be appropriate for business and formal occasions (no hats or sunglasses or shorts). In other words, dress conservatively with a degree of modesty. Do not wear T-shirt with messages or slogans. The judge is in charge of the courtroom and may order the removal of anybody who is dressed inappropriately.
• D. When you enter the courtroom, please find a seat in the galley. Standing is generally not permitted in courtrooms.
• E. Stand when the judge enters or leaves the courtroom. As soon as the judge is ready to enter the courtroom, the marshal will announce his approach by buzzer or bell. All present must rise to their feet immediately and remain standing until the judge is seated.
• F. After the judge comes to his seat and before he sits down, bow to the judge.
• G. If the judge is already in the courtroom when you enter, stop and bow respectfully to the judge from the doorway of the courtroom before proceeding to your seat.
• H. Enter and leave quietly (do not disrupt proceedings).
• I. When the judge is ready to leave the courtroom, the marshal will make the announcement and all the people in the courtroom must stand and remain standing until the judge has left the room. Soon after the judge stands up and before the he/she starts to walk out, stand and bow to the judge and remain standing until he/she leaves the courtroom.
• J. Stand when the judge speaks to you; stand when you speak to the judge (unless he tells you otherwise). Do not approach the judge.
• K. Speak clearly, audibly and in a polite tone when speaking to the judge and all parties. Use polite language in the courtroom.
• L. Address others only by their title and surnames, including lawyers, witnesses, and court staff. A judge is called “My Lord” or “My Lady”, as the case may be.A Registrar is addressed as “Your Honour”. Respect the judge since he represents the law.
• M. Answer questions carefully, clearly and truthfully. Lying in court is perjury and you may be prosecuted if found out. There is no reason for you to rush to answer a question. You are allowed to pause and consider your response for a few seconds before answering. If you don’t understand a question, ask for clarification. Some lawyers may try to pressure you into answering quickly, but do not answer the question unless you are sure you understand it. Rapid questioning can lead to confusion and inaccuracy in court proceedings.
• N. Maintain eye contact with the judge or court staff when they are speaking to you.
• O. Court staff are responsible for maintaining security and decorum in the courtroom. Listen to any instructions that they give you. If you fail to comply with any such instructions, you may be asked to leave the courtroom.
• P. Counsel are responsible for advising their clients, witnesses, and associate counsel about proper etiquette and behavior.
• Q. Remain calm and collected during the hearing. You can ask the judge to call a brief recess if you find yourself getting angry. Use this time to regain your composure. A judge can hold you in contempt of court for causing a disturbance in courtroom e.g. shouting, using aggressive, insulting or abusive verbal language or body language, or other disrespectful actions.
• R. Remain respectful and courteous to the judge at all times even if you disagree with the judge’s ruling or an objection. Once a ruling or order has been made, it should be accepted politely and gracefully. It is rude and discourteous to vocalise or act out some form of discontent. Any overtly unaccepting behavior is not only disrespectful, it may well be contemptuous.
• S. Do not interrupt others while they are talking. If something needs to be clarified, wait until it is your turn to speak. Do not argue with the opposing party or his/her lawyer
• T. Please remain silent throughout the hearing since proceedings are electronically recorded. If you need to speak to someone, please step outside the courtroom.
• U. Smoking, eating and drinking are not allowed in courtrooms, even chewing gum is not allowed.
• V. Request the use of courtroom equipment well in advance so that it can be setup while the court is not in session.
• W. Taking audio or video recordings or photographs is not allowed in courtrooms without prior approval, including the consent of the judge and all parties to the case. The media may obtain permission if it is felt to be in the public interest. However, anyone may take written notes in court.
• X. Switch your mobile phone and any other electronic equipment off to avoid disturbing the proceedings and/or interfering with the recording of the proceedings.
• Y. Do not bring into the court premises any item that could be viewed as a potential weapon since it is likely to be confiscated.
• Z. Reading of materials unrelated to the business of the court e.g. newspapers and magazine is not allowed. Avoid playing on your cell phone or working on your laptop or doing any such thing while proceedings are in progress.
• AA. Children may be present in the courtroom so long as they do not disturb the proceedings; otherwise, they will be removed from the courtroom.
• BB. Pets are not allowed in the courtroom.
• CC. Bribery and Corruption are not tolerated and anyone engaged in such acts will be prosecuted. If any of the court staff demand a bribe from you or anyone report them to the Registrar, the Judge-in-Charge, the Police or the Anti-Corruption Bureau. You can also write down your complaint (with as much detail as possible) and send it to the Registrar or drop it in the “Complaints Box” within the court premises. Remember that failure to report corruption is an offence under law. If you are not sure about anything please ask the court staff for guidance.