Judge Grady J. Leupold

Stand as Court is opened, recessed, or adjourned.

In jury trials, stand when the jury enters or exits the courtroom.

Stand when addressing, or being addressed by, the Court.

Stand at the lectern while examining any witness—except that counsel may approach the Courtroom Deputy's desk or the witness for purposes of handling or tendering exhibits.

Address all remarks to the Court, not to opposing counsel.

Be respectful of opposing counsel and the litigants and/or witnesses.

Refer to all persons, including witnesses, other counsel, and parties by their surnames and not by their first or given names.

Only one attorney for each party shall examine, or cross-examine, each witness. The attorney stating objections, if any, during direct-examination, shall be the attorney recognized for cross-examination.

Request permission before approaching the bench.

In making objections, counsel should state only the legal grounds for the objection and should withhold all further comment or argument unless elaboration is requested by the Court.

Those exhibits to which there is an objection shall be presented to the Court for ruling before the opening of the session. If possible, the Court will rule on the objection then, thereby eliminating the necessity for a sidebar conference when the exhibit is offered.

Offers of, or requests for, a stipulation should be made privately, not within the hearing of the jury.

Do not face or otherwise appear to address yourself to jurors when questioning a witness.

Sidebar conferences will presumptively not be tolerated, except in extraordinary and unforeseen circumstances. These conferences have a distracting effect on the jury and the parties should strive to postpone raising issues outside the jury's presence until the next recess, except when an immediate conference appears necessary.

In opening statements and in argument to the jury, counsel shall not express personal knowledge or opinion in any matter in issue.