Circular No: 229/2025
Date: 31 December 2025
Dear Members of the Kuala Lumpur Bar,
The Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee (“KLBC”) has received feedback from Judges regarding members’ decorum and etiquette during Court proceedings. We would like to take this opportunity to remind and request members to be mindful of the following:
Courtroom Etiquette: General
- Members are reminded to maintain courtroom etiquette at all times, whether the matter is being heard by way of e-review, in Chambers, in Open Court or on Zoom.
- Members are reminded to address the Judges and Judicial Commissioners of the High Court as Yang Arif or My Lord/ My Lady. It is strongly encouraged that the Plaintiff/ Applicant/Appellant take the initiative to obtain names of all parties involved and to introduce all parties attending Court, including their opponents and third parties (if any). Members are reminded that whether the proceedings are online or in person, the use of formal language at all times is mandatory.
- Members are requested to be appropriately attired for all Court matters and to take cognisance of which matters are considered to be “Open Court” matters and which matters are considered to be “Chamber” matters. Click here for the Court Attire Guidelines. In this regard, members are reminded not to put on their robes in the Court room when Court is in session. In cases of online hearings which are meant to be heard in Open Court, members should already be robed before signing in to the online session.
- Members are reminded not to make comments or to interject when opposing Counsel is speaking, addressing or making submissions to the Court.
- Members should exercise control over facial expressions and not unnecessarily interrupt or make comments when opposing party is making submissions.
- If members need to drink water during the course of proceedings, members should be discreet and request permission before doing so. Otherwise, members are encouraged to step out of the Court room to drink water. Water bottles should also be kept discreetly. Members are also reminded that eating in the courtroom is prohibited.
- If opponents are not in Court at the scheduled time of their hearing or case management, members are encouraged to call their opponents to inquire as to their whereabouts and estimated time of arrival in order to assist the Courts in scheduling cases. In the same vein, if members are running late for any reason, members should make an effort to inform their opponents or the Court accordingly.
- In relation to any extensions of time agreed to between the parties, members should inform the Court and/or seek permission, as the case may be.
- Members are further reminded that they are not allowed to take photos, to record or take screenshots of their matters, or upload and share the recordings/screenshots of physical or Zoom hearings/case managements when they conduct the same either physically or by way of video link, on any platform, including their social media platforms unless with the Court’s express written consent. Members are implored to observe the Court’s directions and not to post any pictures or videos of Court proceedings on any of their social media sites or anywhere else on the world wide web or by way of WhatsApp or any other similar methods of communication. The Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee takes the view that non-compliance with the same may result in a complaint being lodged with the Advocates & Solicitors Disciplinary Board.
- Members are also reminded that CRT recordings obtained from the Court are not to be shared with any other parties or disseminated on any online platforms.
- Members are also reminded that all authorities quoted should be checked as to whether it is still good law prior to filing of submissions. Further, members are reminded to cross-check all authorities cited, especially if using any tools of artificial intelligence. In this regard, members are reminded that any use of artificial intelligence should be done by taking all required precautionary measures to ensure the accuracy of materials submitted in Court.
Further Guidelines specific to Physical Hearings in Court
- Members are reminded to appear in Court sufficiently early to ensure all preliminary matters are dealt with prior to the scheduled timing.
- Please ensure that the softcopy documents for the Judges are legible after uploading and prior to filing on the EFS system. Also take note of documents that ought to be filed in colour.
- Members are encouraged to seek directions from the respective Courts as to whether service of hardcopies of the Court documents are necessary, ahead of the hearing/trials fixed.
- Members are reminded that if the Judge is addressing a member or the member’s client’s position, the person being addressed should stand up. There should only be one person standing up at any one time. As such, if during the course of addressing the Court, the Judge then invites another party to address the Court, the initial party addressing the Court should immediately sit down.
- Members are reminded that they should not leave open Court during their hearing or trial, whilst their matter is being heard, without the permission of the Court, regardless if they are the lead counsel or assisting counsel. If their matter is the last to be called, parties are all expected to remain in Court until the Judge has left the Court room and adjourned for that session. If their matter has concluded in Open Court and other matters are being called, members are reminded to leave the Court room discreetly without disrupting the matters which are ongoing.
- Members should be conscientious and allow others whose matters are slated to go on first to sit at the Bar tables with microphones.
- Witness copies of all documents to be used during a trial should be provided by the Plaintiff, including the Bundle of Pleadings.
Further Guidelines specific to Online Hearings
- Zoom hearings
- Members are reminded to log in at least 30minutes (or in accordance with the directions of Court) before the scheduled time for their matters and ensure that their connectivity is good and to avoid any interruptions during the hearing.
- Please take note that Zoom hearings are meant to be attended according to the timing for which it has been scheduled for. In the event members are unable to log in for their hearings as scheduled, please do inform the Court and their opponent(s), and request for assistance as soon as possible.
- When attending Zoom hearings, members are reminded to ensure that the microphone is working, they can screen share documents,and that the angle of the camera is positioned to provide a clear and unobstructed view of their face.
- Videos should be turned on at all times during the hearing. If not speaking, members should turn off the microphone.
- Members are reminded not to attend Zoom hearings from their car/vehicle or when travelling/walking. Members are also reminded that Zoom hearings should not be conducted in public spaces.
- E-review
- Members are reminded that their attendance for the e-review sessions should commence at the time scheduled for the said e-review session. Members are to regularly check whether the Court has responded or have asked for any information/confirmation on any issues. Members are reminded to ensure that responses are provided on a timely basis. If members are engaged in Court for another hearing or are engaged in any other matters, this should be informed to the Court so that the Court will be able to manage the session accordingly.
- When directions are given by the Court or dates are set by the Court, members are encouraged to acknowledge receipt of the directions accordingly, as Registrars/Judges are to only end the session when all parties have acknowledged receipt of the said directions.
Request for postponement
- Members are also to request for postponements in writing at the earliest possible time and not to request to adjourn matters on the day itself (unless in an emergency situation).
- Medical certificates should be presented to Court (and their opponents) at the earliest opportunity.
Certificate of Urgency Matters
To ensure the smooth processing of applications premised on a Certificate of Urgency, the Registrar will process the application and obtain directions from the Judges upon receipt of the same. We advise members to be prepared for any directions which may be issued by the Judge as the application could be scheduled to be heard at any time and in a manner deemed appropriate.
Thank you.
Nimalan Devaraja
Chairman
Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee
Aarthi Jeyarajah
Tay Kit Hoo
Co-Chairpersons
Civil Practice and Court Liaison Committee