Rule 4.10 Ex Parte Presentations; Duty to Court

Here's what this rule means in simple terms:

If you ask a judge for something without the other side being present (this is called an "ex parte" request), and that judge says no, you can't just turn around and ask a different judge the same thing without saying anything. You have to tell the second judge that you already asked another judge and got turned down.

This rule stops people from "judge shopping." That means trying your luck with different judges until one of them finally says yes, while hiding the fact that others already said no. The judge needs the full picture to make a fair decision, including knowing that someone else already reviewed the request and rejected it.

If you don't disclose the earlier denial, you're not being honest with the court. This can hurt your case and your credibility. Judges expect full honesty, especially in situations where the other side isn't even there to speak up for themselves. Being upfront about what already happened protects the fairness of the process for everyone involved.