|

A judge should not be showing up late to hearings.

I am a lawyer with an active practice in a number of different counties in Pennsylvania. One issue that always creates a problem is when a judge does not appear timely on the bench. Hearings are listed for 8:30 or 9 a.m., and when the judge doesn't show up until 10:30 or 11, that obviously creates problems not only for the court system and litigants but for the lawyers who often have multiple cases they have to attend to. Is there anything that can be done about that?

It is always difficult to criticize a judge, particularly about their tardy conduct. Criticism can result in problems down the line.

On the other hand, becoming a judge does not make one king of their courtroom hill. The Code of Judicial Conduct and case law that's developed over the years in judicial discipline, has created a fair system of regulation of the conduct of judicial officers. No longer is a judge able to unilaterally run their courtroom without compliance with the rules.