“The bar must maintain courtroom decorum at all times ” says Akinlade

Convener of the Duty Solicitor’s Network, Mr Bayo Akinlade on Monday, called for strict adherence to courtroom etiquette and decorum, in a bid to sustain a cordial relationship between the bar and bench.

Akinlade, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikorodu branch, told the newsmen, that the seeming unhealthy relationship between the bar and bench is one of the reasons the bench is undermined.

According to him. legal practitioners must understand that they first owe a duty to promote the course of justice, before their duty to clients .

He, consequently, called on Nigerian lawyers to observe all court decorum and show respect for the bench as part of efforts in promoting the course of justice.

“I have come to conclude that the general unhealthy relationship between judges and lawyers in the course of our professional interactions, is one of the major reasons why the Judiciary is generally undermined.

“I have experienced hostility from judges and magistrates and I am sure I may have appeared rude and condescending to judges as well, so we all need a reset,” he said

Akinlade noted that lawyers must strive to uphold court decorum as true ministers in the temple of justice, so as to foster a long lasting relationship in the judiciary.

“I am an advocate for courtroom decorum and I always advice counsel that when a judge is insisting on a particular idea, you simply “keep your cool” and take the hint

“Arguing with a judge is not our training; you do not argue, but advocate in a courtroom.

“A judge is in charge of the court, and a lawyer is a minister in that court serving the cause of Justice for both the court and his client.

“The confusion with most lawyers is that we think that our first duty is to our clients when they are before a judge; No, a lawyer’s duty is to assist the court arrive at a just conclusion of the issues before it, and not to misdirect the court in anyway.

“Hence, a lawyer’s first duty is to meet the ends of Justice for all involved,” he said

Akinlade noted that for judges who cannot separate their beliefs from their duty as judges, there are laid down procedures of addressing such issues, adding that lawyers must never confront a judge in court.

“A lawyer should never confront a judge in open court but should use the mechanisms available to him to seek redress where such lawyer feels unjustly treated.

“Whether a judge or lawyer, we must understand that we are from the same profession; a judge is merely a public servant who will not always be a judge but will always be a lawyer,” he said

Akinlade noted that being a judge is an appointment to serve the public adding that such service is very vital to the maintenance of law and order in society.