Judges: Mind Your Image and Manners

The Henan Supreme People’s Court recently made news here and here. It issued China’s first institutionalized provincial level judicial etiquette—《河南省人民法院司法礼仪规范(试行)》, the Henan Province People's Court judicial etiquette (Provisional) (“Judicial Etiquettes”). The much hyped Judicial Etiquettes will become effective on August 1, 2008, across the central province of Henan.

It sets out some norms for judges to follow while on or off the bench. Some deal with speech, some deal with dress code, and others concern basic manners in a court room.

The following 11 types of sentences addressing lawyers are banned:

1. Stop talking (or more crudely, shut up).
别再说了。

2. Am I the judge or you are?
你当法官还是我当法官。

3. Do you or I know the law?
你懂法还是我懂法。

4. Whose words are controlling here?
你说了算还是我说了算。

5. Shall we listen to you or me?
听你的还是听我的。

6. Not agreeing to mediation is not good for you.
　　 不同意调解对你可没好处。

7. Your case is sure to win/lose.
你这个案件肯定要输（赢）的。

8. How are you lawyering the case?!
你这个律师怎么当的。

9. This Court is not here for you alone.
法院不是为你一个人开的。

10. You are annoying.
烦人。

　11. This is how I’m gonna rule. You are free to appeal, to whomever and wherever.
我就这样判了，你去告好了，想找谁找谁，想去哪告去哪告。

Aren’t these rules great?! Taxi drivers in Beijing and the judges in Henan finally have something in common to talk about—Caution, Speech. What is more, the judges in Henan are now officially required to deliver justice and politeness. Hopefully, that is not a tall order.

There is more to the Judicial Etiquettes. Judges in Henan also have to mind their manners too on the bench. For example, they cannot do these:

1. leave the bench in the middle of proceedings;
不得擅自离开审判席

2. receive phone calls or play computer games;
不得接听电话、玩游戏

3. wear sandals or slippers;
不得有穿拖鞋

4. Pick ears or cut fingernails;
掏耳朵、剪指甲

5. Smoke, eat snacks, or any other improper activities
吸烟、吃零食等不雅行为

I cannot imagine these happening in a court room; but apparently it’s been an issue in Henan People’s courts. Not targeting Henan Province here or have anything against it, which is the cradle of the Chinese civilization, but it is Henan that first came up with these rules.

And the following are my favorites:
1. Male judges shall not grow long hair, beard, or shave their heads bald.
2. Female judges shall not “dye their hair, wear heavy make-up, tattoos or painted nails.”
3. While wearing their uniforms, judges should not hold hands, arms with others in the public.

Overall, I see the Judicial Etiquettes as a positive thing, especially in the light that lawyers will get more respect in court rooms. But, what is wrong with male judges growing long hair? Is it the continuing campaign to root out any remaining influence of the Qing Dynasty? And female judge paining their nails?

Take it easy, your Honors in Henan.