COURT ROOM ETIQUETTES

AND DECORUM.
SUBMITTED BY:-

NIKITA CHAWLA

NATASHA CHAUHAN

PALAK MATHUR

PALAK ARORA

(BBA LLB 2022-27 1ST SEMISTER)

WHAT ARE COURT ETIQUETTE AND DECORUM AND WHY DO WE NEED THEM?

• Etiquette is the conduct or procedure prescribed by authority to be observed in social or official life.
Decorum means literary and dramatic propriety. It is behaviour that people consider to be correct,
polite, and respectable. So, court etiquette and decorum basically refers to the conduct and
behaviour that is expected from the people in the court life.
• Maintaining decorum in and around a courtroom and following the etiquettes of the profession are
not merely a superficial means of protecting the image of lawyers and judges – it is absolutely
essential to the administration of justice.
• The lawyer’s role in maintaining decorum is substantial. What the lawyer says and fails to say, who
the lawyer calls to the stand, and what the lawyer demonstrates to a jury as evidence all impact the
decorum of the courtroom. The lawyer is not only the advocate for a client – she is an officer of the
court, bound to uphold the court’s integrity and to preserve the administration of justice.
 WHY THERE IS A NEED TO STUDY THIS TOPIC?

•  Maintenance of certain intellectual and ethical standards is very essential for upholding the dignity
of the legal profession. As officers of the courts, advocates should always maintain decorum in the
courtroom and as budding lawyers, law students must be acquainted with basic courtroom decorum.

• It is a topic that trains you for future and imparts a sense of professionalism in your conduct.

• Nevertheless, you should be aware that courts have etiquette rules, failing to adhere to these rules
could result in negative consequences.

• After all, you best serve your own interests by dressing and behaving in a serious and respectful
manner.
 Addressing the judge
Acting in dignified in a proper manner.
manner and respecting Appearing in proper
the court all times. dress code.

Avoiding any type of Basic court Standing at appropriate

verbal or non-verbal
means of room times.
communication ettiquates

Speaking in respectful
Refuse to represent manner and using dignified
clients who insist to use manner during the
Never showing back to arguments.
unfair means
judge
 Not to communicate
in private.
Knowing beforehand the
Not to record the
courtroom and time of
proceedings in audio or
the proceedings.
visual forms.

Basic court Going well prepared.

Controlling emotions. room
ettiquates

Not to wear bands and

gowns in public.
Being present at all the
adjournments.
Arriving on time.
 ACTING IN A DIGNIFIED MANNER AND RESPECTING THE
COURT AT ALL TIMES

• When an advocate presents his case before the court, he should always act in a dignified and self-respecting
manner. Respect should be shown towards the court at all times and no such action should be undertaken
that affects the honor, dignity, and integrity of the courts. Moreover, an advocate should also explain to his
client how to behave in the courtroom. 
• Contempt of court is another concept that has to be understood by stakeholders in a lawsuit. Contempt of
court happens in the case of:
a. Misbehavior of any person in its presentation of the court or so near thereto as to obstruct the administration of
justice; 
b. Misbehavior of any of its officers in their official transactions; 
c. Disobedience or resistance to the court’s lawful writ, process, order, rule, decree, or command.
 ADDRESSING THE JUDGE[S] IN PROPER MANNER

 An advocate should always address the judge(s) in a proper manner

depending upon the hierarchy of courts. The Advocates address the
Judges as ‘Your Honour’, ‘Your Lord’, ‘My Lord ‘, or ‘Your
Lordships’.

 A bench comprising justices H L Dattu and S A Bobde during the

hearing of a petition which said addressing judges as “my lord or your
lordship” in courts is a relic of colonial era and a sign of slavery
observed that it is not compulsory to call them “my lord”, “your
lordship” or “your honour” but Judges should be addressed in courts in
a respectful and dignified manner.
 APPEARING IN PROPER DRESS CODE

• Proper attire, especially for lawyers, is a subtle indicator of

professionalism. Thus, an advocate’s appearance should always be
presentable and he should appear in court, at all times, in the dress code
prescribed under the Regulations of the Bar Council of India Dress Code.

• Part VI: Chapter IV of Bar Council of India Rules: Rules under Section
49(1) (g) of the Advocates Act, 1961 lay down the dress code for lawyers.
In practice, there is a similar dress code for interns, minus the
neckband and gown. 

•  Accessories: The minimum and as unobtrusive and sparing as possible.

Avoid large, long, chunky, colorful accessories.
 STANDING AT APPROPRIATE TIMES.

• An advocate should always stand when he is speaking to the Judge(s), interrogating

a witness, or raising or meeting an objection. He should also stand when the
judge(s) arrive or leave as a mark of respect and honor. If a question is posed to
him from the bench, he should stand up to answer.

• Also, 2 advocates should not be standing at the same time addressing the court.  

• Litigants are not allowed to stand in the courtroom unnecessarily.

SPEAKING IN RESPECTFUL MANNER AND USING DIGNIFIED LANGUAGE
DURING ARGUMENTS.

• An advocate should not laugh or speak loudly in the courtroom,

especially at the time when proceedings are going on.  Shouting in
the courtroom disturbs the decorum and amounts to committing
contempt of the court.

• Moreover, an advocate should always be courteous and respectful to

everyone, including the court staff, in the courtroom.   

• An advocate should use dignified language at the time of

presenting arguments in court and unparliamentary language
should not be used
REFUSE TO REPRESENT CLIENTS WHO INSIST ON UNFAIR MEANS

 An advocate shall refuse to represent any client who insists

on using unfair or improper means. An advocate shall
excise his own judgment in such matters.

 He shall not blindly follow the instructions of the client. He

shall not scandalously damage the reputation of the parties
on false grounds during pleadings.

• While leaving the courtroom, an advocate shall never show his back to the Judge(s)
as doing so is disrespectful to the judge. 
 AVOID ANY KIND OF COMMUNICATION THROUGH VERBAL AND
NON-VERBAL MEANS

• No one should talk among themselves, especially the advocates. It

disturbs the proceedings and may frustrate the judge. Even non–verbal
communication through signs or expressions does not go unnoticed and
thus, should be avoided. You must observe silence during the whole
court proceeding.

KNOWING BEFOREHAND THE COURTROOM AND TIME AT WHICH THE CASE

IS LISTED

• An advocate needs to know beforehand the courtroom and the time at which the case
is listed to avoid any last-minute confusion and delays.
 NOT TO COMMUNICATE IN PRIVATE

• An advocate should not communicate in private to a judge with regard to any matter pending
before the judge or any other judge. An advocate should not influence the decision of a court
in any matter using illegal or improper means such as coercion, bribe etc.

NOT TO RECORD THE PROCEEDINGS IN AUDIO OR VISUAL FORMS

• No advocate or law student should attempt to record the proceedings in audio or visual
form.
 ARRIVING ON TIME

• Punctuality is the most effective approach to establish a positive first impression. An

advocate should never be late. Getting late makes a bad impression on the judge.
 Thus, he should be in the courtroom at least fifteen minutes before the trial is set to
start. He should also make sure that his client reaches on time.   

NOT TO WEAR BANDS AND GOWNS IN PUBLIC PLACES

• An advocate should not wear bands or gowns in public places other than in courts, except on
such ceremonial occasions and at such places as the Bar Council of India or as the court may
prescribe.
 CONTROLLING EMOTIONS

• An advocate should always control his emotions in the courtroom, especially when
the judge makes a decision. He should not make any faces or express disagreement
or gratitude over the judge’s decision.   
• Controlling emotions depicts seriousness and professionalism, which should not
be limited to the four walls of the courtroom. An advocate should not laugh or
discuss a case in other places in the court as he could be seen or heard by the
judge, the other party or their lawyer, or witnesses. Moreover, an advocate should
always try to convince the judge by argument and reason and not by appealing to
his sentiments.
 GOING WELL PREPARED

• Many times, it is observed that lawyers go to the court, unprepared for their case, and fumble around with
paperwork in the courtroom itself. An advocate not being well acquainted with the facts of a case or the name
of the parties may frustrate the judge and depicts unprofessionalism, which should be avoided. It is disrespect
to the court and could also become a reason to lose a motion or a case. Thus, always go well prepared.

BEING PRESENT AT ALL THE ADJOURNMENTS

• An advocate must attend and be present at all the adjournments, once he has accepted a case brief.
He should not take a step back, once he has taken the responsibility to handle a case for his client. 
THANK
YOU!!
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
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