Rule 3.040 Advice to Clients and Witnesses of Courtroom Formalities

Lawyers have a job to do before their clients or witnesses ever step into a courtroom (or log into a remote hearing). They need to explain how courtroom formalities work, whether that means how to address the judge, when to speak, or how to behave during the proceeding. Lawyers also need to encourage their clients and witnesses to cooperate throughout the process.

This same duty applies to people who represent themselves in court without a lawyer. If you're representing yourself and you have witnesses testifying on your behalf, you need to prepare them the same way. That means explaining what to expect and asking for their cooperation, just like a lawyer would do for their own witnesses.

The goal here is simple: courts run more smoothly when everyone involved understands what's expected of them. This rule makes sure that responsibility falls on whoever is guiding a witness through the process, whether that's an attorney or someone representing themselves.