United States District Court	Southern District of Texas

Brownsville Division

Courtroom Etiquette

People who appear in court must observe these and other conventions of courteous, orderly behavior.

A.	Be punctual.

B.	Remain in attendance until excused. All persons sitting before the bar shall remain there during each session and return after each recess. Parties and counsel must remain in attendance during jury deliberations; absence waives the right to attend the return of the verdict.

C.	Dress with dignity.

D.	Address others only by their titles, if applicable, and surnames, including lawyers, witnesses, and court personnel.

E.	Unless instructed otherwise, stand when the Court speaks to you; stand when you speak to the Court. Speak only to the Court, except for questioning witnesses and, in opening and closing, addressing the jury.

F.	Avoid approaching the bench. Counsel should anticipate the necessity for rulings and discuss them when the jury is not seated. When a bench conference is unavoidable, get permission first.

G.	Hand to the Case Manager, not the judge or reporter, all documents or items tendered for examination by the judge.

H.	Stand when the judge or jury enters or leaves the courtroom.

I.	Contact with the law clerks is ex parte contact with the Court. Contact must be through the Case Manager.

J.	Assist in the summoning of witnesses from outside the courtroom. Furnish the Case Manager, marshal, and court reporter with a list of witnesses showing the order in which they are likely to be called.

K.	Question witnesses while standing at the lectern unless instructed otherwise by the Court. When it is necessary to question a witness about an exhibit, ask permission to approach the witness.

L.	Conduct no experiment or demonstration without permission.

M.	Do not participate in a trial as an attorney if you expect you may be called as a witness without prior permission of the Court.

N.	Avoid disparaging remarks and acrimony toward counsel and discourage ill will between the litigants. Counsel must abstain from unnecessary references to opposing counsel, especially peculiarities.

O.	Make no side-bar remarks or speaking objections.

P.	Counsel are responsible for advising their clients, witnesses, and associate counsel about proper courtroom behavior and about pertinent rulings of the Court such as rulings on motions in limine.

Q.	Request the use of easels, light boxes, and other equipment well in advance so that they may be set up while the Court is not in session.