Navigating Courtroom Etiquette: Do’s and Don’ts Explained
Are you heading to court and you’re not sure what the rules are for how to behave or what the procedures are for your particular case? My name is Carl Birkhead. I’m a Tulsa attorney with Wirth Law Office. I’ve been doing family and criminal law for about seven years and I want to help you to make law easy by giving you some advice about the do’s and don’ts of courtroom practice.
The rules and procedures of the courtroom are pretty straightforward regardless of where you are. You stand up when the judge enters the room. Oftentimes, you’ll hear the sheriff’s deputy or the bailiff or some attorney yell, All rise. Everyone stands up. Judge takes the stand, and says, Take your seats. Everybody gets to sit back down. Don’t wear any ball caps in the courtroom. That’s a rule in any courthouse I’ve ever been to.
Courtroom Etiquette
Don’t wear your ball caps in the courtroom. It’s just a matter of respect. Same thing with no flashing gang signs or rude or derogatory gestures. I had one docket where I saw someone just flipping the bird to everyone they saw and he was already in an orange jumpsuit. The judge just, instead of letting him have his hearing that day, had the bailiff escort him back to the jail because if he was going to be disrespectful, he got to go sit in jail.
Every courthouse is going to have its little quirks. Some are going to say, no cell phones in the courtroom. Some are going to say, just keep your cell phones on vibrate in the courtroom. Some are going to say, no talking in the courtroom. Some are going to say, no loud talking in the courtroom. You really shouldn’t be talking at all, but at the very least, be respectful of the fact that this is serious business going on in court. If you need to have a chat with your buddy, go outside in the hall and have that chat.
Seeking Guidance
One of the big rules I see a lot of people get in trouble for is if, let’s say your brother Joe is there for a criminal case and he’s being held in custody, you can’t talk to Joe whenever they bring him in. You can be there for moral support just like, I’m here for you, but you can’t say, I’m here for you. You can’t say, hey Joe, and you absolutely can’t be giving advice.
If you’re not sure what to do, or if you think you might need some help guiding you through this process, give us a call. My name is Carl Birkhead. I’m with Wirth Law Office, and I’m here to help you to make law easy.
Call for Strategy Session
If you need help navigating the rules and procedures of the courtroom, give us a call at 918-879-1681 to schedule a low-cost initial strategy session with our experienced attorneys at Wirth Law Office. We are here to assist you and make the legal process as smooth as possible for you.
