Local Rule RULE 5072-1: Decorum in all proceedings.

RULE 5072-1. Decorum in all proceedings.

The following procedures are to be followed in all proceedings:

(a) there shall be no oral confrontation or colloquy directly between opposing attorneys or parties, and all persons within the courtroom shall be treated with dignity and respect;

(b) all persons appearing in person and addressing the Court shall stand, unless otherwise directed by the Court, and address the Court from the podium or from a microphone location to improve the quality of the recording;

(c) all objections shall be stated with specificity before any argument or explanation of the same (i.e., leading, hearsay, improper foundation, etc.);

(d) during the witness testimony, attorneys shall not approach the witness box, bench, or the Clerk's bench without the Court's prior approval;

(e) counsel shall request assistance from the courtroom deputy if they wish to use blackboards, view boxes, or other audio-visual aids and shall make their request sufficiently in advance to allow for set-up of this equipment when the Court is not in session;

(f) counsel shall address each other and all witnesses by formal name (rather than by first name) during all court proceedings; and

(g) whether appearing remotely or in person, all attorneys shall wear business, not business casual, attire while appearing before the Court.

(h) The following procedures are to be followed in all proceedings where parties are appearing by video or other electronic means:

(1) Prior Notice of Intent to Participate. Anyone electing to appear remotely shall utilize the procedure identified by Mont. LBR 5074-1(c). "Video" for purposes of Mont. LBR 5074-1(c) shall refer to "Zoom" unless the Court designates an alternative or subsequent videoconferencing application. A party requesting to appear by video shall be responsible for ensuring a stable internet connection.

(2) Remote Appearance Conduct. Participants shall strive to conduct themselves in the same manner as they would in open court. To maintain the decorum of the proceedings, any party, counsel, or witness appearing via Zoom shall:

(A) Dress professionally;

(B) If a participant chooses to use a "background," the background should reflect professionalism and not detract from the proceedings;

(C) Identify themselves for the record each time they speak;

(D) If a party appears from home or other shared space, the other occupants of the space should be advised that Court is proceeding, and the party appearing remotely cannot be interrupted;

(E) Appear in a quiet location and mute their microphone until their case is called and their participation is necessary;

(F) Ensure the location has appropriate internet connectivity capabilities to support any necessary streaming and downloading of documents, among other things.

(G) If for some reason, a connection to a participant is lost, the Court will stop the proceedings, and the Court's IT staff will endeavor to fix the problem.