Renowned legal practitioner Robert Costello, a partner at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, received a firm reprimand from presiding Judge Juan Merchan during the Manhattan criminal trial against Donald Trump. This first flare-up happened when Costello, acting as a defense witness, was not more than a brief 10-minutes into his time on the stand. According to the New York Law Journal, the situation escalated significantly enough to warrant a brief recess from the day’s proceedings.
It’s worth noting that according to courtroom decorum rules, lawyers and witnesses alike are required to maintain a certain level of respect towards the court, its personnel, and rulings. Such instances of rebuke, therefore, do highlight the need for adherence to these standards, even for veteran attorneys such as Costello.