Rule 3.2 Ensuring the Right To Be Heard

Every person involved in a court case has the right to speak up and be heard, as long as they follow proper legal steps. If someone has a legal stake in what's happening in a case, the judge must let them or their lawyer present their side.

This means judges cannot shut people out of the process or ignore them just because it's convenient. Everyone with a real interest in the outcome gets a fair chance to explain their position, ask questions, or respond to what others have said. This applies whether someone is representing themselves or has a lawyer speaking for them.

The judge still controls how the courtroom runs and can set reasonable limits on time or procedure. But the basic right to speak and be listened to cannot be taken away. This rule protects fairness by making sure no one gets left out of decisions that affect them.