Litigation

Don't Alienate the Judge

By Evan Schaeffer

When dealing with the judge at trial, try your obsequious best never to show any hint of irritation or disrespect.

That's the advice of Martin L. Grayson, who writes in his excellent, readable book The View from the First Chair: What Every Trial Lawyer Really Needs to Know:

In my opinion, one of the biggest mistakes an attorney can make is alienating the judge. You will put yourself and your client at risk of losing every close call, having every request for continuance or extension of discovery procedures summarily denied and, worst of all, having the judge signal the jury at trial that you are not trustworthy.

Good advice.

Full post as published by The Illinois Trial Practice Blog on August 11, 2010 (boomark / email).