Judges & Lawyers: Speak Up, Please

An open letter to the judges and lawyers in McHenry County:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

When you are at the bench, how about speaking up so that you can be heard in the courtroom? When you mumble and speak so softly that you cannot be heard past the lawyers' tables, you deprive us in the courtroom of the opportunity to learn what is happening with your case.

Judges usually call cases in a loud enough voice to be heard. How else would those there to testify even know to go forward? Lawyers, of course, have the privilege of the printed docket, so they know in what order cases will be called. The average Joe Blow doesn't have that privilege.

But after calling a case, a judge's voice drops. Sure, the lawyers can hear. And the judge can hear what the lawyers have to say. Otherwise, the judge will direct them to speak up.

This morning I told the court clerk that the voices of the judge, lawyers and others would not be heard, if they didn't speak up. Her solution? I could buy a transcript. Well, I don't want to buy a transcript! I just want to hear what is said.

Maybe it would help if the lawyers at their lawyer's table didn't talk. Maybe it would help if observers and witnesses in the seats didn't talk. Maybe it would help if lawyers didn't talk to observers about matters not involving a case.

And maybe it would help if the courtroom security office (f/k/a bailiff) paid more attention and acted more quickly to quiet those in the seating area. And then monitored to see if they stayed quiet.

The rules for courtroom decorum are published. Why aren't they followed? And enforced?

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT