Silence in the Court....

Judge Hamad Abdellatif is no doubt one of my favorite judges at the the Dubai Criminal Court.

He is tough but fair, astute and circumspect, all qualities that many judges share, but above all he is strict about court room decorum. He runs his court room like a well oiled machine and is unflinching in censuring anyone who violates the sanctity of the court with incessant shatter, loud whispering, or mobile text messaging.

In this day and age when respect is such a rare commodity and the young have almost no idea what constitutes proper or improper behavior in a court room, Judge Abdullatif is here to set them straight.

"This is a court room and you should show the same reverence in here as you show in a house of worship," the judge was heard telling a witness in a murder trial last week in open court. The witness, a young Arab man, was sitting in the public galleries waiting to give evidence and was talking to the person next to him, when the judge ordered them both out of the courtroom. When the witness was called to give evidence the judge was quick to let him know that his behaviour was unacceptable.

In another incident, a diligent and dedicated journalist was text messaging a brief news peice on his mobile phone when the judge called him up to the bench. The startled journalist went up before the judge who told him not to do that, albeit in a low tone, pointing out to the journalist that he was supposed to set a better example for other members of the public.

By writing, even flateringly, about the judiciary in this open and frank way, I risk censure myself. But I feel compelled to register for posterity that the justice system here works and it works well. Judges guard and protect the defendant's rights, even if defendants are not aware of this, give them every opportunity to defend themselves and present evidence, are monumentally aware of the tremendous responsibility on their shoulders, so the least people can do is show this hallowed institution, judges and the law the respect owed them.

If you ever find yourself in a court room:

-stand when court is called to session

-stand when court is adjourned (you can be penalized if you do not)

-switch off your mobile phones or turn them on silent

-do not talk in court

-do not sit with one leg crossed over the other as if you are in a cafe

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