General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNo matter what sort of an asshole a judge may or may not be
you cannot, under our judicial system, display rudeness or contempt for him/her in the courtroom. It's not merely about the judge, it's about the court itself. Is it "fair"? That's not the point. However fucked up our judicial system is, it would be a lot more fucked up if lawyers or defendants could simply run with whatever emotion they're feeling.
Don'ts
Don't chew gum.
Dont argue with the opposing party or his/her attorney.
Don't interrupt.
Dont react to the answers of witnesses or to the questions from the opposing attorney to indicate your displeasure.
If you are questioned by the other side dont argue with the questioner.
Dont ask questions back: What would you do if
Dont give flippant answers.
While you are waiting in the back of the Court Room
Do appear to be paying attention. It is helpful to actually listen and learn about the process (and the judge) before your case.
Do try to appear pleasant and interested in the proceedings.
Do be polite to courtroom staff - the clerk, the bailiff or others. They work with the judge and will report behavior.
Don't read the newspaper, listen to your iPod, work on your laptop, chew gum, use your cell phone or talk to other people while waiting in the back of the courtroom.
Don't make faces or roll your eyes or otherwise show negative reactions to something happening in the court.
Don't ignore or treat non-judge members of the court staff poorly. They are part of the justice system that will decide your case.
Don't act angry or short-tempered with the judge, even if you are upset by your case.
When Speaking to the Judge
Do refer to him/her as "Your Honor" and speak with respect.
Don't act angry or short-tempered with the judge, even if you are upset about your case
http://www.peoples-law.org/node/925
MineralMan
(146,329 posts)Of course, for the self-destructive, it will go unheard.
Wait Wut
(8,492 posts)...we just learn to show respect, in general?
But, yeah...when you find yourself in front of a judge, cop or anyone that can make your life miserable, it's best to be polite.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)Go Vols
(5,902 posts)would be common sense to most,but looking at the other threads ....
davsand
(13,421 posts)My personal favorites are the ones up on DUI charges showing up for TRIAL wearing beer Teeshirts or (equally good) pro drug use Teeshirts after getting busted for drugs. They show up wearing Tees with profanity, nudity--all kinds of stuff guaranteed to peeve a judge or jury--you'd be amazed! It is bad enough that a couple of attorneys I know actually keep spare dress shirts in the office just in case a client shows up dressed offensively.
I'm in and out of the courts on a regular basis as part of my job, and I never cease to be amazed.
Laura
AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)1. Had a giant marijuana leaf on it
2. Was a picture of the back of a man's head between two thighs. The caption: "The REAL Taste of Chicago"
davsand
(13,421 posts)Does the phrase "exercise in futility" come to mind???
Laura
Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)My father went with me; the bailiff wanted to know if I was his lawyer. Which tells you something about how standards of dress have slipped, I suppose.
dsc
(52,166 posts)I wore a suit and tie and was amazed at the sea of t shirts and jeans I was surrounded by. The only other person who was dressed up was a woman who was there for a prostitution citation.
Whisp
(24,096 posts)I haven't looked at that thread but I'm guessing there are some numbnuts proclaiming freedumb of screech - that constipational rights are being abused if you can't tell a judge to fuck off or whatever.
good grief.
progressoid
(49,999 posts)HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)No matter if the judge is an a-hole, you have to suck it up b/c he's going to win that battle. It's best to focus on minimizing your losses. Same goes for dealing with cops, I might add. Being rude or argumentative will never work. Being polite and cooperative may not work, but has a better chance. Tough to do when the cop's a dick, I know.
Lionessa
(3,894 posts)So perhaps this is the beginning in a change for what's acceptable when a judge acts in contempt of the defendant.
EastKYLiberal
(429 posts)Go Vols
(5,902 posts)30 days for contempt.
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)She would still have been lucky if she had sucked up the Judge's BS and appealed after. IOW, it was that the facts supported her, not her actions, that caused a favorable outcome. And she would have spared herself a 30 day contempt sentence in the process.
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)Go read about it...he did not overturn the contempt charge...he upheld it.
obamanut2012
(26,137 posts)leftynyc
(26,060 posts)He amended the fine back to $5000 and dropped the drug charge is she goes to rehab. She's still doing the 30 days for contempt and will unless the little twit apologizes.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)EastKYLiberal
(429 posts)I can call these types of judges out for the assholes they are and acknowledge that people defending them for being fascists are probably less than tolerable to be around themselves.
Lionessa
(3,894 posts)the original judge's bullshit.
The only way stupid rules get changed is by situations like the one to which you are referring, by peaceful protestation in whatever form that takes. A courtroom to my experience is an oxymoron from the very beginning. First we're told to tell the whole truth, but whenever we try to do that we're told to just answer the question "yes or no" which isn't the whole truth at all, is it?
Things need to change, and perhaps this young lady wasn't the perfect Patty, but at the same time perfect Patty wouldn't be in front of a judge thusly in the first place. Hat's off to this young lady for both her attitude about fairness, and her win in the courts.
Nine
(1,741 posts)Response to Lionessa (Reply #12)
Go Vols This message was self-deleted by its author.
obamanut2012
(26,137 posts)DireStrike
(6,452 posts)Bandit
(21,475 posts)Nothing like hog tying and gagging a defendent in your courtroom to attract public attention...
limpyhobbler
(8,244 posts)leftynyc
(26,060 posts)interview chewing gum? Also doesn't belong in a court room.
limpyhobbler
(8,244 posts)I don't see anything offensive about it as long as they don't stick it to something, like the underside of a desk.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)I personally haven't chewed gum since I had braces in my teens and I do find it distracting to have a conversation with someone who is chomping away on the stuff.
limpyhobbler
(8,244 posts)If a person takes offense at chewing gum, I would question whether that person has the correct temperament to be a judge. If they get distracted by gum I'm not sure they would really be good at judging stuff. I don't find gum offensive or distracting. A judge should be able to keep his or her focus at least as well as me, and not be too distracted by gum.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)The OP was trying to be helpful. You, of course, are free to do any stupid thing in a courtroom you would like.
limpyhobbler
(8,244 posts)It shouldn't affect anything. If a judge lets gum affect anything one way or another, or spends any work time discussing it, I think the problem is with the judge. Maybe they take themselves too seriously or something.
zappaman
(20,606 posts)Thinking the woman who told a judge "fuck you" is some kind of hero, is ridiculous.
marions ghost
(19,841 posts)no-brainer.
But then she has no brain, just hair.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)Too late for the "hero" though.
Apophis
(1,407 posts)marions ghost
(19,841 posts)--the courtroom has to have decorum or there would be utter chaos. NOBODY likes judges. Duh.
obamanut2012
(26,137 posts)bvar22
(39,909 posts).
.
.
.
and THIS happens:
Believe me.
It can happen to you.
I will add one more prohibition to those listed by the OP:
Don't imbibe alcoholic beverages before your appearance in court.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)Especially loved when Sheldon looked at the very large man who was sitting down and saying "you're in my seat". Sheldon has no filter - much like this twit. Same thing happened to both but Sheldon was smart enough to apologize (I realize it was because there was no way as a germophobe he was going to use the communal toilet).
Madmiddle
(459 posts)only works for certain judges and certain people. Why don't you folks ask some of the people that lost their homes in Florida and the rest of the country about judges that let banks take their homes even when these banks had no right to, but judges allowed it. It doesn't always work to just bend over and take it. Judges are people and people are not always right.
obamanut2012
(26,137 posts)Complaints can later be made about judges, and those complaints are often effective (if legit). But, while in court, if you act like a fool, you have a good chance of getting slapped down and/or getting a CoC charge.
Good OP!
spartan61
(2,091 posts)a judge. But...if that is so, why is it OK to show disrespect by so many repugs toward our president? Why the double standard?
Stonepounder
(4,033 posts)I have had to appear in court several times (hard to live a long life and not end up there for one reason or another). I learned very early on to act respectful and not be argumentative. I have managed to talk my self out of several tickets - not by arguing with the cop, but by being respectful and apologetic. I have also successfully 'beat' a couple of speeding tickets in court, again by being respectful to all involved, but the facts were on my side.
When going to court, I always get a haircut and wear a suit. I 'sir' everyone (or 'your honor' if it is the judge, even if he is a jerk). When my daughter had to get involved with the Kentucky equivalent of Child Protective Services, we stressed to her the importance of dressing herself and the kids nicely. She was amazed at the difference between the way she was treated as a well-dressed professional looking woman vs how others she saw were treated when they came in looking like they hadn't even bothered to put on clean clothes in a week.
But as a previous comment said, you can't help the self-destructive.
AsahinaKimi
(20,776 posts)arely staircase
(12,482 posts)is the hardest to follow yourself. but if you want to fight a truly bad judge, flipping him off may be satisfying for a moment, but counter productive at the least.
MissMarple
(9,656 posts)Shrike47
(6,913 posts)We were all thinking it, but he said it. Shouldn't have. You must respect the office, no matter what you think of the holder. Otherwise, we have chaos and things get even worse.
And don't go into court with your penis tattoos on your arms showing!
Downtown Hound
(12,618 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)Downtown Hound
(12,618 posts)is the very essence of authoritarianism. And could you possibly come up with a better response that doesn't make you sound like the girl in the video?
sendero
(28,552 posts)... by all means adhere to a double standard and show respect for the judge even if he is a fucking asshole. got it.
This set of rules makes perfect sense in a courtroom run by a judge with similar sensibilities. It breaks down when the judge is an arrogant douchebag.
I'm sorry, but "adios" is not contempt and this judge was wrong.
LWolf
(46,179 posts)to students in the classroom, or their parents?
Liberal In Texas
(13,574 posts)Judges get really annoyed if someones cell phone rings.