APPENDIX “C”
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT ☆ SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
HOUSTON DIVISION
ORDER
Courtroom Etiquette
People who appear in court must observe these and other conventions of courteous, orderly
behavior.
A. Be punctual.
B. Remain in attendance until excused. All persons sitting before the bar shall remain there
during each session and return after each recess. Parties and counsel must remain in
attendance during jury deliberations; absence waives the right to attend the return of the
verdict.
C. Dress with dignity.
D. Address others only by their titles, if applicable, and/or surnames, including lawyers,
witnesses, and court personnel.
E. Unless instructed otherwise, stand when the Court speaks to you; stand when you speak to
the Court. Speak only to the Court, except for questioning witnesses and, in opening and
closing, addressing the jury. Do not argue with opposing counsel.
F. Avoid approaching the bench. Counsel should anticipate the necessity for rulings and
discuss them when the jury is not seated. When a bench conference is unavoidable, get
permission first.
G. Hand to the Case Manager or law clerk, not the judge or reporter, all documents or items
tendered for examination by the judge.
H. Stand when the judge or jury enters or leaves the courtroom.
I. Contact with the law clerks is ex parte contact with the Court. Contact must only be through
the Case Manager.
J. Assist in the summoning of witnesses from outside the courtroom. Furnish the Case
Manager, marshal, and court reporter with a list of witnesses showing the order in which
they are likely to be called.
K. Question witnesses while standing at the lectern unless instructed otherwise by the Court.
When it is necessary to question a witness about an exhibit, ask permission to approach the
witness.
L. Conduct no experiment or demonstration without permission.
M. Do not participate in a trial as an attorney if you expect you may be called as a witness
unless given prior permission by the Court.
N. Avoid disparaging remarks and acrimony toward counsel and discourage ill will between
the litigants. Counsel must abstain from unnecessary references to opposing counsel,
especially peculiarities.
O. Make no side-bar remarks or speaking objections.
P. Counsel are responsible for advising their clients, witnesses, and associate counsel about
proper courtroom behavior and about pertinent rulings of the Court such as rulings on
motions in limine.
Q. Request the use of easels, light boxes, and other equipment well in advance so that they
may be set up while the Court is not in session.
Signed this 31st day of October, 2019.
___________________________________
Andrew S. Hanen
United States District Judge
