Summary: Listen as United States District Judge John Koeltl of the Southern District of New York makes the case for civility among lawyers, both before and during trial, as a way of not only making the practice of law more satisfying for lawyers, but also less costly for clients, and more focused for judges and juries. Judge Koeltl, a member of the Judicial Conference Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, and a former partner in the New York firm of Debevoise amp; Plimpton, applies rules of civility to pre-trial behavior, written motions and briefs, as well as trial tactics, to drive home his plea for the development of a new culture of civility in our American courts.
