Judges and Judiciary
Nov. 25, 2025
Bonding from the bench: How judges create chemistry in the courtroom
Judges can enhance fairness and public trust by using respectful, clear and compassionate communication to humanize courtroom proceedings and foster a sense of justice for all participants.
Wendy L. Patrick
Wendy is a California lawyer, past chair and advisor of the California State Bar Ethics Committee (Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct), and past chair of the San Diego County Bar Association Legal Ethics Committee. Any opinions expressed here are her own, and do not reflect that of her employer. This article does not constitute legal advice.
The announcement "All rise" as a judge enters the courtroom signifies a change in courtroom dynamics from casual to formal, from at ease to at attention. Because courtroom decorum is not only well-known socially and culturally, most people view judges as impersonal arbiters of justice. Identified through both attire and environment, wearing a black robe, sitting high on a bench looking down on everyone else, gavel in hand, judges are expected to be fair. But although a courtroom ...
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