It is a universally known fact that the manner in which you address a judge can significantly impact the outcome of the situation at hand. That being said, legal professionals, especially, should be aware of this – but some, like Ben Aderholt, choose to tread a different path.
As detailed in an account by Law.com, Aderholt opted to directly correspond with a judge in a tone deemed to be both “threatening and harassing.” This highly unusual display of disoffensive professional behaviour was later sternly responded to by his law firm, Coats Rose, who decided to terminate his employment.
According to Law.com, the letter, that was sent on Coats Rose letterhead, brazenly addressed Judge Erica Hughes by her first name and brashly questioned her authority, going on to compare her to “political animals who treat our judiciary as political games.” The firm, understandably, acted promptly, terminating Aderholt’s contract.
An interesting point to note here is that professional etiquette, a given in any sector, significantly intensifies in the legal world. Any departure from this code of conduct, as evidently demonstrated by the Aderholt incident, may have severe consequences. In this case, it cost Aderholt his job. When communicating with key stakeholders, it is critical to 1) address them by their full name, and 2) ensure the chosen mode of communication is accordance with professional standards.
The digital world, where precedence is easily accessible and unprofessionalism leaves lasting impressions, does not forgive. As pointed out ironically, a seemingly innocent gag on LinkedIn can earn you 15 minutes of shame, so one can only imagine the social disgrace once it’s revealed that an attorney has disrespectfully addressed a judge, utilizing their firm’s stationery.
In the fallout of the incident, Aderholt did attempt some damage control. He clarified that the harsh statements conveyed in the letter were solely his, and not representative of his firm’s views. Additionally, he duly apologized to Hughes personally, through a handwritten letter. Although the entire episode may have served as a wake-up call to Aderholt, it was, unfortunately, too little, too late for his position at Coats Rose.
Casual disregard for professional conduct in the legal world can have severe consequences. This is a significant reminder for legal practitioners to mind their manners when addressing judges or any significant stakeholders in the field.