When in court for a divorce case, one of the last things you want to do is anger the judge. It is important to remember that judges are people too, and their jobs are not simple – especially when they are dealing with a family matter like divorce.

Judges have to listen to witness testimony, review evidence, and try to determine who is telling the truth and who isn’t. Anything that happens in the courtroom that distracts the judge is going to upset them. Being that he or she is deciding some very important issues, you want to be cautious and not upset the judge in any way.

Here are some tips to help you maintain credibility with the court, both prior to, and during, your hearing:

1. While sitting in the pews, don’t talk while watching the cases before yours. Chances are the judge will remember you if you distract him or her from their duties.
2. While court is in session, avoid working on an iPad, cell phone or laptop. This is distracting. While you may think you are being quiet, those devices do make noise or may mistakenly make a sound that pulls the judge’s attention from the case they need to focus on.
3. Don’t have any reading material while court is in session. Again, this is a distracting activity. While watching other cases, it is best to sit still and be quiet. Look forward and watch the other cases that are leading up to yours. Reading material includes any documents that you may be carrying for your own case. Sort through your documentation before entering the courtroom. Don’t use the time in the courtroom to prepare because rustling pages can distract the judge.
4. Do not wear headphones in the courtroom, or have a Bluetooth ear piece in your ear while court is in session. This says to the judge that the proceedings are not being taken seriously. The judge may feel that if you are not listening to and paying attention to the proceedings before yours, that you are not going to care much about yours either.
5. Do not eat or drink in the courtroom. Again, this is a distracting activity that the judge is not going to be too fond of.
6. When entering the courtroom, you will need to be as quiet as possible. There is a good chance that there is a case in progress, so you will need to open and close the door quietly. Try to be as free from distractions as possible.
7. During your case, you also want to not speak out of turn. Be courteous, and speak when it is your turn and try not to start any arguments, or participate in one if the other party tries to start something.

Our attorneys frequently appear in Hennepin, Anoka, Sherburne and Wright County. Have a question about a particular judge’s preferences in any of those counties? We’re here to help. Call (763) 783-5146 for a free consultation.