approach the bench

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approach the bench

v. an attorney's movement from the counsel table to the front of the bench (the large desk at which the judge sits) in order to speak to the judge off the record and/or out of earshot of the jury. Since the bench area is the sacred territory of the judge the attorney must ask permission as "may I approach the bench," or simply, "may I approach." If the judge consents, then opposing counsel must be allowed to come forward and participate in the conversation. The purpose can range from explaining the order of witnesses, a technical problem or the need to take a recess to go to the restroom.

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References in periodicals archive ?

It is pertinent to mention here that LHC Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Shamim Khan granted a two-day protective bail to Hamza Shahbaz on Saturday to enable him to approach the bench concerned for hearing of his bail petition.

LHC grants interim bail to Hamza Shehbaz till April 17

approach the bench Cian Cowley and Conor McGregor in court yesterday

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After what seemed like hours, I approach the bench, only to be told that as my name is not on the bank book, they can't take the money (when have you ever heard of a bank that will not take the money?) and will issue a receipt, but can not enter it in on the pass book.

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On promulgation, I asked the judge if I could approach the bench with the public prosecutor (fiscal then).

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The designer of "Approach the Bench" used to play chess with his father.

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An apex court bench comprising Justices B S Chauhan and A K Sikri said it is unable to modify the order of another bench and has instead asked Srinivasan to approach the bench that delivered the May 16 order.

SC rejects Srinivasan's plea seeking modification of May 16 order

After listening to Stoever's impassioned closing argument, Bland invited the eight defendants to approach the bench. Offhandedly, he pronounced them guilty of trespassing.

Trial of anti-nuclear activists ends with unusual sentence

"May I approach the bench your honor?" a middle-aged woman was heard telling the court.

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The SFA have hired Ronnie Clancy QC, at a reputed cost of pounds 4,000 a day, to approach the bench at the same time as Paul McBride QC, who presumably has no need of income support either, in the case of Neil Lennon versus the SFA.

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"Khamis was told by the judge to approach the bench and requested to again show his injuries, which Khamis says were inflicted last September, when he was released from state security investigations custody and sent to prison while awaiting trial," Mohamedain explained.

Zeitoun case defendants claim torture, case adjourned to April 18

In 1994, when trained in the US - but still owned by Mulhern - Approach The Bench captured the Grade 1 Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar.

Flamboyant Irish trainer John Mulhern dies, aged 69; Festival hero Galmoy highlight of career

If my brothers and I all faced our share of defeats at that shaking head and that denial, we each also experienced moments of anticipation and even relief at hearing our father utter, in hushed tones, the phrase: "Approach the bench."