Courthouse Etiquette for Media

Su= preme Court Etiquette

It is important to behave respectfully in any kind of courtroom so that the proceedings are not unnecessarily disrupted. There a= re rules for members of the media in the courtroom (regulating their use of cameras and the sharing of footage), and there are rules for those who are watching the proceedings. So= meone who interrupts the court process could be found in contempt of court. A person can be removed from the courtroom for violating any of these rules. Talking, whispering, giggling, shuffling papers, or disturbing the composure of the proceedings with phon= es, computers, or pagers is not allowed. No= t only is it necessary to show respect for the judges and justices, it is also essential to show respect for the lawyers and parties who are arguing befo= re the court.

v&n= bsp; Come into and leave the courtroom quietly.<= /p>

v&n= bsp; Listen and watch closely; focus on the deta= ils.

v&n= bsp; Don’t bring food, gum or anything to drink.

v&n= bsp; Don’t talk during the court session.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> If you don’t understand som= ething or wish to say something, please save your comments for the break.

v&n= bsp; Don’t leave the courtroom during an o= ral argument unless you feel ill.

v&n= bsp; Don’t bring backpacks into the courtr= oom.

v&n= bsp; Turn off cell phones and pagers before ente= ring the courtroom.

v Inappropriate attire, such as t-shirts with swear words, depicting violence or sexual acts, promoting drug or alcohol = use, muscle shirts, tank tops, halter tops, shorts, cut-off jeans, baggy pants = that fall below the hips, micro-mini skirts, pants with holes, hats (except tho= se worn for religious purposes), is prohibited.

v&n= bsp; Be respectful of the judge or hearing offic= ial, the court staff, attorneys and litigants. Maintain a respectful attitude a= t all times in the court building and in the courtrooms.

Silence is Impor= tant: Court proceedings must be electronically recorded. Therefore, silence is a neces= sity, unless you are a party to the proceeding that is in progress. Disruptive behavior such as talking, laughing, shouting or creating other loud disturbances will not be tolerated. The security staff may remove offenders from the building and the judges may hold violators in contempt of court. Mild-toned conversations may be conducted in the lobbies, hallways and conference rooms. We strongly discourage bringing young children to court.=