Advice from Others

Judges are particularly annoyed by lawyers (and their clients) who:

• ignore the rules of court;
• fail to prepare;
• arrive late;
• repeat themselves;
• act rudely;
• make frivolous arguments;
• mislead the court;
• argue with the judge;
• refuse to talk settlement; and
• request a last-minute continuance.

I can add a few from my own experience:

• allow your cell phone to ring while in court;
• dress inappropriately;
• interrupt other people who are speaking;
• chew gum while in court;
• bring a baby or child to court; and
• generally act belligerently without proper decorum.

Source: “Sure-Fire Ways to Alienate the Trial Judge”, Excerpted from Convincing the Judge: Practical Advice for Litigators , by Cecil C. Kuhne III