"Oye oye oye" is a common misspelling of the traditional court cry "Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!" (pronounced oh-yay), which means "Hear ye!". It is used in courtrooms, particularly in the United States Supreme Court and some lower courts, to signal the beginning of a session and to command silence and attention.
Literally, it means “Hear ye!” It was used by criers in the Middle Ages when calling for attention so they could make a public proclamation. It was also adopted by courts, first in England and then in America, as a formal way to open judicial proceedings.
Common Courtroom Phrases
Oyez is a term derived from French, meaning "hear ye." It serves as a call for silence or attention in a courtroom setting, typically announced by a public crier.
They say "Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!" three times to command silence and attention in court, a tradition from medieval French-speaking courts meaning "Hear ye!" or "Listen!", emphasizing the solemnity and continuity of judicial proceedings by connecting to centuries-old legal heritage. The repetition serves to draw everyone's focus to the start of a session or an important announcement.
Most law schools teach that when our feet reach the podium the first words we should pronounce-with clarity, while meeting the judge's eyes-are: "May it please the court...." There is nothing wrong with the phrase, except it's just a polite nicety if the advo- cate does not know how to "please the court."
DO be respectful to the judge; address him or her as "Your Honor" or "Judge." DON'T chew gum in the courtrooms. DO turn pagers and cellular telephones off while visiting the Courthouse. DON'T bring food or beverages into a courtroom.
Shysters and Ambulance Chasers
More modern terms used to describe lawyers include terms like “shyster” and “ambulance chaser.” These derogatory terms come from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Always make sure to address the judge as your honor. If the judge asks you questions, answer with respectful phrases like, yes sir, yes ma am, or yes, your honor.
judges of the Supreme Court….” After Senate confirmation, the President signs a commission appointing the nominee, who then must take two oaths before executing the duties of the office. These oaths are known as the Constitutional Oath and the Judicial Oath.
“The law must have the last word.” “The study of law is sublime, and its practice vulgar.” “No man is above the law and no man below it.” “Justice is conscience, not a personal conscience but the conscience of the whole humanity.
Always use “Your Honor” when speaking directly to the judge.
Address Seated Judge as "Your Honor" or "The Court"
Don't speak over a judge. Not only is speaking over others insanely frustrating for the court reporter, judges don't like it either. Even if a judge has just issued a wildly idiotic ruling, hold your tongue until you can be heard clearly on the record.
There's no single lawyer universally recognized as having won the most cases due to varying definitions, but Gerry Spence (never lost a criminal case, no civil loss since 1969) and Sir Lionel Luckhoo (245 successive murder acquittals) are legendary for exceptional win records, while figures like Clarence Darrow, Johnnie Cochran, and David Boies are famed for high-profile victories, showing success depends on the type of law and era.
According to the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, "The overwhelming majority (90 to 95 percent) of cases result in plea bargaining."