Geraghty Quoted in Law360 on Dealing with a Volatile Judge

Shook, Hardy & Bacon Miami Managing Partner William Geraghty weighs in on strategies for navigating a case overseen by a difficult judge in an April 25 Law360 article, “4 Ways to Deal With a Volatile Judge.”

Geraghty notes the importance of maintaining a calm atmosphere in the courtroom, so that the jury feels comfortable. He believes that when a judge seems to be vexed, it is best to request for sidebar, so that the attorneys and judge can hold a discussion in a “more mild-mannered, calm fashion where everybody doesn’t feel the need to keep moving.”

Other attorneys quoted recommend that attorneys should be courteous, use self-deprecating humor as appropriate and make sufficient preparations for trial to defuse an irritated judge.