Rule 3.070 Persons Permitted Within Bar of Court

Only certain people are allowed to sit in the area near the judge, known as inside the bar, during a trial or hearing. This area is normally kept for the people directly involved in the case: the clients, their attorneys, court staff, and witnesses when they are called up to testify.

Family members of the people in the case, or other spectators, are not allowed to sit in this area. They need to stay in the section behind the bar, which is the public seating area. If someone has a special reason to be inside the bar, the judge can make an exception and allow it.

This rule helps keep the courtroom organized and makes sure only the people who need to be close to the judge and witnesses are in that space.