Rules of the Court

1. General Policy: Each attorney or party who appears in Court should be polite and considerate towards opposing counsel, opposing parties, witnesses, and members of the court’s staff.
2. Attire: No person shall appear in court wearing sunglasses, masks or hats, unless the same are part of a duly authorized uniform of a government employee. No person shall appear without a shirt, pants or barefoot. No person shall appear in bikini tops or bottoms, or underwear garments. Government employees should be dressed professionally. Attorneys should be neatly and appropriately dressed in business attire for all court appearances.
3. General Conduct
   • No person should converse with anyone in a manner that is distracting to the proceedings before the courtroom.
   • No person should visibly or audibly display approval or disapproval with any testimony, ruling, or statement of the court, counsel, or witnesses.
   • No one other than a judicial officer, a member of the court’s staff, or other government employee shall use a telephone or cellular device during the proceedings of the Court. All noise alert devices related to cellular phones and personal digital devices shall be turned off.
   • Smoking is prohibited throughout the courthouse.
4. Communication to Court or Jury:
   • No person in the courtroom shall speak with any clerk, judge, or justice when the court is in session, except as that conversation may be necessary in relation to the matter at the moment before the court.
   • Persons in the Court should have no communication with the court touching upon any subject of the pending litigation except on the record with all counsel or parties present.
5. Traversing the Well
   • Persons in the courtroom should not enter the area between the bench and counsel table except with approval of the court.
   • Counsel must request the permission of the court prior to approaching any witness.