Sunday, June 28, 2009

Disrespectful?

I've always cringed a little when I hear a male lawyer address a female judge as "ma'am" (instead of "judge" or "your honor") during an argument. Now Senator Boxer has caused a bit of a stir with this exchange:



So, I will put it to you all:

Is it disrespectful to address a judge as "ma'am" instead of "judge" or "your honor"?
Yes
No
pollcode.com free polls

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Does this mean "honey" and "sweetheart," are off the table? Can I no longer tell the lady judge to not worry her pretty little head, with regard to my client's court appearance?

Ed Williams said...

Judge vs. Senator is not the same. (In any event, Boxer is deserving of no title of respect. She is an outright idiot dwarfed only by Pelosi).

Judges wear a robe. The respect of "Your Honor," or "The Honorable" is shown for the robe, not the person or the sex.

Bring back Kimba, she was hot girl, robe or no robe!

Rumpole said...

Want to figure out my identity? In over 25 plus years as a lawyer I have called exactly three Judges "your honor." Jose Gonzalez in the SD Fla, and Jack Weinstein in ED NY and Cowart (perhaps the best) in Miami. Everyone else is "Judge".

My way of expressing my feelings about the court.

I can think of several current judges who MIGHT make the "your honor" list. Jordan; The Chief; etc. But not yet.

I think "maam" is the same as "Sir" and is just fine.

Anonymous said...

Is it cringe worthy when a lawyer(male or female) answers a question from a male judge and addresses him as "Sir?" I don't think so.

If judges start complaining about this I will demand to be addressed as Esquire.

What about when a lawyer prefaces an answer by saying "With all due respect." That drives me crazy!!!

What also drives me crazy is the overuse of exclamation points!!!

Anonymous said...

Ma'am is an absolute term of respect.

What makes that exchange particularly absurd is that she is speaking to a Brigadier General who without doubt is referred to as "Sir" throughout the day as a term of respect and authority. You think that guy ever says, sir, you will call me General?!

What she displayed was a lack of self confidence; she is insecure and a coward to say that to that guy at that time.

Anonymous said...

Somebody told me this blog is insulting Brazilian Soccer. To you, cowards, I say only....ole...ole ole ole....ole.....ole....ole....ole ole ole....ole....ole!

You try to steal our women in Miami, then, you try to beat us at our game! Ha!

And, I will never call your women Ma'am....they are unworthy of that amount of respect!

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

BREAKING NEWS .....

Supreme Court reverses Sotomayor in 5-4 decision.

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that white firefighters in New Haven, Conn., were unfairly denied promotions because of their race, reversing a decision that high court nominee Sonia Sotomayor endorsed as an appeals court judge.

New Haven was wrong to scrap a promotion exam because no African-Americans and only two Hispanic firefighters were likely to be made lieutenants or captains based on the results, the court said Monday.

Cap Out .....

Anonymous said...

So, she didn't do too bad, 4 on her side. I can't even get one when I appeal to the eleventh.

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

BREAKING NEWS ...(number two) ...

MADOFF GETS THE MAX!!!!!

Bernard Madoff has been sentenced to the maximum 150 years in prison for his multibillion-dollar fraud scheme.

I guess that plea for 12 years from the defense attorney, (he asked for one year less than his client's life expectancy), fell on deaf ears.

Cap Out .....

David Oscar Markus said...

One comment noted: "The issue here is that this was a US general. Military protocol is to refer to superiors as "ma'am." He was not being disrespectful."

I think I agree with that.

Anonymous said...

Why isn't she calling him "General"... I am sure he worked hard for his title too... The combat patch on his right shoulder is one example.. what a bitch!