The folks in Washington might learn a thing or two about civility and professionalism by watching the manner in which our local court system operates. Day in and day out, lawyers from different cultural, socioeconomic and religious backgrounds gather in courtrooms across South Florida to engage in proceedings that are by their very nature, adversarial. And yet voices are rarely raised; tones are nearly always tempered; and instances of name calling in open court are virtually unfathomable. Signs of disrespect—both to opposing counsel and the court— are simply not tolerated. Whether it is plaintiff versus defendant, petitioner versus respondent, or creditor versus debtor is of no consequence. Our local lawyers treat one another with respect. In fact, some of the most effective lawyers in town also happen to be the most pleasant. If there is one thing to learn from their success is that one need not be abrasive to win cases. You really do attract more bees with honey.

The high level of civility and professionalism does not end with our lawyers. It extends, quite naturally, to our judiciary. We have some of the best Judges in the nation and they command respect; respect for the court; respect for litigants and witnesses; and above all, respect for the legal process. A Judge’s orders are nearly always met by counsel with “Yes, Judge,” or “Yes, Your Honor.” Even during heated debates, our judges manage to effectively control the flow of the conversation and the focus of oral argument. When a Judge speaks, we, as attorneys, listen. It is a faux pas to interrupt a judge, and such a blunder is nearly always followed by an apology. And while our judges encourage spirited legal discussions, attorneys are careful to ensure that their remarks display the requisite level of deference to the court. Even if attorneys ultimately disagree with the court’s ruling, they always do so respectfully.

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