# Why do we stand up for judges when they enter court? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 27, 2022, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488 "2022-01-27T13:34:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/41 "2022-01-28T00:37:10Z")
Wrong on both accounts. Have held current job as professor for 28 years after 10 years at non-academic jobs, none of which saw me fired. Have been involved in democratic teaching since a government commission on the subject in the 1970s and have written on the topic. Just because we have hierarchies and power imbalances does not mean we should have them. ---
**Author:** ![EdelweissPirate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8491ac/32.png) [@EdelweissPirate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdelweissPirate)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/42 "2022-01-28T01:06:37Z")
In support of Kropotkin, my undergrad school was a tiny Great Books school based on the University of Chicago program. The professors at my school were universally addressed as “Mr.” or “Ms.”, as were the students. The idea was that while the professor may have a lot of knowledge, they were merely the most advanced student in the class. Secondarily, it helps prevent appeals to authority—or at least, it makes them more obvious. This might sound flaky to some, but (a) it’s the cornerstone of the Socratic method and (b) corny or not, as a student, I saw substantial benefits from it. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/43 "2022-01-28T01:09:47Z")
I’m going to presume that speculation about the authoritarian character of those who might find this flaky should be confined to the pit. May I ask where you did your undergrad? ---
**Author:** ![EdelweissPirate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8491ac/32.png) [@EdelweissPirate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdelweissPirate)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/44 "2022-01-28T01:16:36Z")
I attended St. John’s College in Santa Fe, NM. Do you know it? ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/45 "2022-01-28T01:23:34Z")
Only by reputation. Taking a quick look at the webpage, it looks exciting. Working at a public university in Canada, where post-secondary education is in trouble, I’m envious! Sorry for the hijack, over and out ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/46 "2022-01-28T01:25:58Z")
We stand up when the Judge enters for the same reason that we wear our cruddy, only suit. We don’t want to go to jail, so we show your basic level of subordinate ass kissing. It’s better than jail. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/47 "2022-01-28T05:21:45Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I don’t really see the need for the prefatory language. It adds nothing. It prepares you to be ready for whatever is coming immediately next. "With all due respect, if any, . . . " ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/48 "2022-01-28T06:24:39Z")
> [@tofor](#): > > We rise when “Hallelujah” is sung in the Messiah. That’s very variable nowadays, at least in London (I would guess it’s a stronger tradition with the great choral societies in the north of England,). I’ve been at performances where some did, some didn’t, and some rather amusingly hovered and dithered. But it’s in essence the similar to standing for the judge: the judge is there to dispense the monarch’s justice, and tradition has it that everyone stands for the Hallelujah chorus because George II leapt to his feet in his enthusiasm. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/49 "2022-01-28T10:21:55Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > tradition has it that everyone stands for the Hallelujah chorus because George II leapt to his feet in his enthusiasm. Allegedly, and without any actual evidence that George ever even attended a performance. But people were already standing for it by the 1750s. Maybe it’s all hype created by Handel? ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/50 "2022-01-28T10:36:34Z")
> [@tofor](#): > > We rise when “Hallelujah” is sung in the Messiah I really wish this tradition would go away and die. It just breaks up the flow of the music and enjoyment of the performance. It isn’t showing deference to anything, and is just stupid. When the conductor comes on the concertmaster rises and the rest of the orchestra follow. It is a great way to signal to the audience that it is time to applaud. When the conductor leaves the logistics are a bit harder, as the whole rigmarole of individual and section acknowledgements of members of the orchestra has probably just concluded, so the concertmaster has to keep everyone under control. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/51 "2022-01-28T13:47:44Z")
We also stand when _Take Me Out to the Ballgame_ is played during the 7th inning stretch. As well as for _Sweet Caroline_ in the 8th. And of course, during for the National Anthem at ballgames. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/52 "2022-01-28T14:08:00Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > It prepares you to be ready for whatever is coming immediately next. What? It wakes me up to the possibility that NOW the atty might say something worthwhile? 😉 I’m paid to sit up there. It is hard to NOT pay attention. Just say what you want to say. (Just one opinion.) ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/53 "2022-01-28T15:39:59Z")
It’s interesting with zoom hearings and even trials. We don’t stand when the judge comes on screen. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/54 "2022-01-28T17:00:19Z")
Tho it is useful to observe if one is NOT a cat! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/55 "2022-01-28T19:18:26Z")
Or wears pants… ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/56 "2022-01-28T21:08:58Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > It’s interesting with zoom hearings and even trials. We don’t stand when the judge comes on screen. I’m in a Zoom trial now where the judge wants us to stand while making our submissions. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/57 "2022-01-28T21:10:48Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I’m in a Zoom trial now where the judge wants us to stand while making our submissions. Wow, even in our Federal Court (typically way more formal) the Judge didn’t seem to care. I sat throughout the whole trial. I practiced standing up, but it felt funny. I suppose you can get used to it. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/58 "2022-01-28T21:20:09Z")
Yeah, well - you get to wear a wig, dontcha? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/59 "2022-01-28T21:44:31Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > > [@Procrustus](#): > > > > It’s interesting with zoom hearings and even trials. We don’t stand when the judge comes on screen. > > I’m in a Zoom trial now where the judge wants us to stand while making our submissions. Does that require adjusting the camera angle when going from sitting to standing? Otherwise, I imagine that the camera is going to be pointed at your crotch or your abdomen when you stand. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488/60 "2022-01-28T21:57:05Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > > [@Senegoid](#): > > > > It prepares you to be ready for whatever is coming immediately next. > > What? It wakes me up to the possibility that NOW the atty might say something worthwhile? 😉 No, when they start with “With all due respect…” it alerts you to the possibility that something stupid or jerkish (or more exactly, contentious) will immediately follow. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-stand-up-for-judges-when-they-enter-court/958488.md?page=4)