Attorneys and judges are suppose to be leaders of law and order, not yelling at and personally degrading each other and others in the courtroom. What is acceptable is a heated litigation on the merits of the case.
According to law: Rules of Professional Conduct and Hawaii Revised Code of Judicial Conduct, attorneys and judges are mandated to be professional.
Pursuant to Rule 2.8(b) of the Hawaii Revised Code of Judicial Conduct, “A judge shall be patient, dignified, and courteous to litigants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers, court staff, court officials, and others with whom the judge deals in an official capacity and shall require similar conduct of lawyers, court staff, court officials, and others subject to the judge’s discretion and control.” Under the Judicial Selection Commission’s Judicial Retention Evaluation Form, 1 of the 5 categories judges are evaluated on is “Compassion.”
Pursuant to Rule 3.5(b) of the Hawaii Rules of Professional Conduct, “A lawyer shall not harass a judge, juror, prospective juror, discharged juror, or other decision maker or embarass such person in such capacity. According to Rule 3.5(c) of the Hawaii Rules of Professional Conduct, “A lawyer shall not engage in conduct intended or reasonably likely to disrupt a tribunal.”
JON RIKI KARAMATSU 