Last page edit 06/25/08

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Courtroom Do's & Don'ts

Going to Family Court with Your Children? - Children can be confused or upset about going to court.  The Family Services Program of the Administrative Office of the Courts has developed a free booklet called, "My Day at Court:  A Guide and Activity Book for Kids Going to Court in Maryland".  The book contains stickers, pages to color and clear explanations of the people, words and work of the courts.  Ask at court for a copy.

How to Dress for Court

  • Do dress as you would for an important event

  • Don't wear T-shirts with messages.

  • Don’t dress down to gain sympathy

  • Don’t chew gum.
     

Finding the Courts

Your Courtroom Behavior

  • Do exercise self control, no matter what is said in the court room
  • Do be on time for court.
  • Don’t react to the answers of witnesses or to the questions from the opposing attorney to indicate your displeasure.
  • Don’t argue with the opposing party or his/her attorney.

When You are Testifying

Do

  • Do listen to the entire question being asked before you answer.

  • Do ask the questioner to repeat or clarify any questions that you do not understand.

  • Do direct your answers to the person who asked the question. Make eye contact with that person.

  • Do answer with only “yes” and “no” when you can.

  • Do answer questions that seem stupid or foolish to you.  It is your attorney’s job to object to improper questions.

  • When your attorney objects to a question

    • of you, wait until the judge makes a decision.

    • Only answer the question if the objection is overruled or if the judge asks you to answer the question.

    • If the objection is "sustained", do not answer the question.

Don't

  • Don’t mumble. Speak loudly enough to be heard by the judge, the court reporter, the opposing side, and the jury.

  • Don’t memorize answers. It will show and others may not believe you. You may forget what you planned to say.

  • Don’t lie about anything, not even white [small] lies. If you are discovered to be lying, the judge may find it hard to believe you when you are telling the truth.

  • Don’t feel the need to explain every answer. “What I mean when I say that” may sound like you are trying to hide something.

  • Don’t argue with the questioner.

  • Don’t ask questions back:  “What would you do if…”

  • Don’t give flippant answers.

  • Don’t assume that the lawyer has an a hidden motive for every question.

Last review 6/25/08 (PLL/M.A.J.)

Source: House of Ruth, with editing by the Maryland Legal Assistance network (MLAN), updated by the Maryland State Law Library (MSLL).
Is this legal advice? This site offers legal information, not legal advice.  We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information and to clearly explain your options.  However we do not provide legal advice - the application of the law to your individual circumstances. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.  See our section on Finding Legal Help.

About this website. The Maryland State Law Library, a court-related agency of the Maryland Judiciary, sponsors this site. The website was developed (1999-2007) as part of an access to justice initiative by the Maryland Legal Assistance Network (MLAN) in collaboration with a number of legal services providers serving low and moderate income Marylanders.  In the absence of file-specific attribution or copyright, the Maryland State Law Library may hold the copyright to parts of this website. You are free to copy the information for your own use or for other non-commercial purposes with the following language “Source: Maryland's People’s Law Library – www.peoples-law.org. © Maryland State Law Library, 2007.”

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