CHAPTER 11: PLAY BALL! GOING TO COURT

Anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.

~Unknown

“Game on!” Just as there are certain ways to behave on a basketball court or a football field, there is protocol in the courtroom. In preparation for the “big game” (aka a hearing in front of a judge), you should be aware of certain things.

We hope that you do not have to go to court, but if you must go, you must know what you are doing. There are ways to prepare yourself so that your anxiety is reduced and you can understand the court hearings. This chapter provides information and recommendations about what you should do in the courtroom, what you should prepare before going to court and what you should wear to court. Even if you have an attorney, it is still important to know what to expect in court.