A Few Valuable Tips on Courtroom Etiquette From a Judge

Who better to learn courtroom etiquette from than a judge? These tips come from Judge Roderic Duncan who has presided over thousands of divorce cases for more than 20 year. He now teaches family law to law students and new judges. These tips were taken from “A Judge’s Guide to Divorce: Uncommon Advice From the Bench.”

1.   When addressing the judge, address him as “your Honor.” This is preferable to “Judge Jones.”

2.   Your job is to convince the judge to give you the order you are seeking. Keep your speech brief, factual and to the point.

3.   Don’t interrupt the judge when he speaks and don’t interrupt others when they are talking.

4.   When you are speaking, direct your words to the judge, not to others in the courtroom.

5.   Judges want persuasive arguments but not in the form of arguing with the judge. This is where attorneys come in very handy as they know what judges are looking for and know what signals to look for during a court proceeding. They can help guide the process to a more positive conclusion because of their knowledge of the process.

If you are considering a divorce, it’s important to take actions that are correct and will result in your favor. If you are in the Long Island area, contact a competent and caring Long Island divorce lawyer at the Meyers Law Group. We are experienced and have helped many clients in Nassau and Suffolk successfully file for divorce. Contact the office for a consultation by calling 631-784-7722.