By Thomas Spohr -
Intentionally disrespectful conduct in a court has been elevated recently from “very stupid things that people do” to “very stupid things that people can be arrested for”.
Stand, bow, sit. These are the rites of a respectful public at the altar of a court worthy of worship. On some levels they are echoes of a bygone era, but they are traditions respected by nearly everybody – and certainly by all members of the legal profession. But beware, fellow monks and nuns, because intentionally disrespectful conduct in a court has been elevated recently from “very stupid things that people do” to “very stupid things that people can be arrested for”.
