Module TLI4801
1----
Author Palmer, R & McQuoid-Mason, D.
Year of Publication 2000
Title Basic Trial Advocacy Skills
-- Publisher Butterworths
Chapter number Chapter 4
Chapter title Manners in Court
Page numbers 31-38
This material has been reproduced in the e-
Reserves on b2half of the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH
AFRICA (UNISA)
The material may be subject to copyright under
the Copyright Act no. 98 of 1978. /l.ny further
reproduction or distribution of this material by you
may be a violation of the Copyright Act.
A single copy (printed or electronic) of the
material may be kept for academic use only.
, CHAPTER 4
Manners in court (court etiquette)
The co rrect behaviour at coun (co un etiq uette) is usual ly de termined by
long-s tanding practice. Sometimes ru les of etiquette are also conta ined in
th e practi ce m anu als produced by va rious di visions or th e High Co urt.
Ma ny ru les of etiquette are also contained in the rules o f co nduct of the
legal profession. ' This chapter deals w ith
4.1 Dress;
4.2 Pun ctuality;
4.3 Introd uct ions;
4.4 Modes of add ress;
4.5 Behaviou r in cou rt;
4.6 W itn esses ;
4.7 Coun termin ology;
4.8 Percepti ons of bias; and
4.9 Humour in co un .
4.1 Dress
Ap propri ate cou n dress fo r lawye rs is da rk co loured suits or dresses
(b lack. dark grey or blue) Ties should be understated - loud ti es and
ca n oon characters on ties m ay be viewed as improper . Be awa re of
sm aller deta il s. such as ensuring th at shoes are clean and th at shin to p
coll ar buttons are fastened . If a robe is required . ensure it is un creased. of
a suitab le size and in good repair. Male w itn esses should dress in co llar
and ti e. and fe m ale w itn esses shou ld dress sm artly and co nse rvative ly.
4.2 Punctuality
Alw ays ensure that yo u are at th e co un at leas t 3 0 m inu tes before th e
co urt' s starting time. judges and the pub lic expect lawyers to be pun ctual:
repeated tardin ess wi thout adeq uate expl anations may be trea ted as
co ntempt of co urt.
1 See the Genera l Council of Lhe Ba r of Soul h Afr ica Rules of Professional Eth ics and Lhe
tmemarional Code of Eth ics. and see ch I - ch 3.
31
1----
Author Palmer, R & McQuoid-Mason, D.
Year of Publication 2000
Title Basic Trial Advocacy Skills
-- Publisher Butterworths
Chapter number Chapter 4
Chapter title Manners in Court
Page numbers 31-38
This material has been reproduced in the e-
Reserves on b2half of the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH
AFRICA (UNISA)
The material may be subject to copyright under
the Copyright Act no. 98 of 1978. /l.ny further
reproduction or distribution of this material by you
may be a violation of the Copyright Act.
A single copy (printed or electronic) of the
material may be kept for academic use only.
, CHAPTER 4
Manners in court (court etiquette)
The co rrect behaviour at coun (co un etiq uette) is usual ly de termined by
long-s tanding practice. Sometimes ru les of etiquette are also conta ined in
th e practi ce m anu als produced by va rious di visions or th e High Co urt.
Ma ny ru les of etiquette are also contained in the rules o f co nduct of the
legal profession. ' This chapter deals w ith
4.1 Dress;
4.2 Pun ctuality;
4.3 Introd uct ions;
4.4 Modes of add ress;
4.5 Behaviou r in cou rt;
4.6 W itn esses ;
4.7 Coun termin ology;
4.8 Percepti ons of bias; and
4.9 Humour in co un .
4.1 Dress
Ap propri ate cou n dress fo r lawye rs is da rk co loured suits or dresses
(b lack. dark grey or blue) Ties should be understated - loud ti es and
ca n oon characters on ties m ay be viewed as improper . Be awa re of
sm aller deta il s. such as ensuring th at shoes are clean and th at shin to p
coll ar buttons are fastened . If a robe is required . ensure it is un creased. of
a suitab le size and in good repair. Male w itn esses should dress in co llar
and ti e. and fe m ale w itn esses shou ld dress sm artly and co nse rvative ly.
4.2 Punctuality
Alw ays ensure that yo u are at th e co un at leas t 3 0 m inu tes before th e
co urt' s starting time. judges and the pub lic expect lawyers to be pun ctual:
repeated tardin ess wi thout adeq uate expl anations may be trea ted as
co ntempt of co urt.
1 See the Genera l Council of Lhe Ba r of Soul h Afr ica Rules of Professional Eth ics and Lhe
tmemarional Code of Eth ics. and see ch I - ch 3.
31
