Civility in a Time of Uncertainty
Civility in a Time of Uncertainty
by Keith A. Call
As I write this from my home study on March 23, 2020, our community and world are in the midst of turmoil caused by the
rapidly spreading coronavirus. Home offices have sprung up everywhere as we are being encouraged to stay home and avoid
gatherings of more than ten people. Hearings, depositions, and mediations are being canceled. Court operations are being
scaled back to only the most essential functions. We have all seen store shelves emptied of food and supplies, especially toilet
paper, as people prepare to hunker down. And before we had any opportunity to get used to any of these ideas, people along
the Wasatch Front were rattled by a moderately-sized earthquake. It is an experience unprecedented in our lifetimes. As a
community, there is a sense that we all hope things quickly improve, but we fear it may be worse before it gets better. By the
time this article is published in early May, there is little doubt that things will have changed dramatically, either for better or
worse, from what they are at the time of this writing. What do the Utah Standards of Professionalism and Civility teach
us for times like this? I dusted off a copy, read through it, and here are a few ideas.
Preamble and Standard No. 1 – Be Nice and Watch Out for Each Other
The Preamble includes the following (emphasis added): A lawyer’s conduct should be characterized by personal courtesy and professional integrity in the fullest sense of all those terms. In fulfilling a duty to represent a client vigorously as lawyers, we must be mindful of our obligations to the administration of justice, which is a truth-seeking
process designed to resolve human and societal problems in a rational, peaceful, and efficient manner. We must remain committed to the rule of law as the foundation for a just and peaceful society.…Lawyers should exhibit courtesy, candor and
cooperation in dealing with the public and participating in the legal system.
Utah Jud. Admin. Rule 14-301.
Standard No. 1 teaches that we should “treat all other counsel, parties, judges, witnesses, and other participants in all
proceedings in a courteous and dignified manner.” Id. In the context of our day, the words “personal courtesy and
professional integrity in the fullest sense of those terms” suggest to me that we should all pause for a moment, look past the
disputes that divide us and our clients, and make sure that we, especially as fellow lawyers, are doing okay. Civility and personal
courtesy should never be viewed as signs of weakness.
See id. (Standard No. 2).
While continuing to zealously represent our clients, now is a good time to connect with our colleagues, including opposing
counsel, to offer words of concern, hope, and encouragement. There is no doubt that everyone has felt and will continue to
feel the effects of these unprecedented times, and many will feel them in profound ways. Let us demonstrate personal courtesy
and professional integrity in the fullest sense of those terms by offering kind words and gestures to all within our profession.
Standard 13 – Don’t Take Advantage of the Situation
A few days ago I saw many empty shelves in our neighborhood grocery store. Notably, there were no potatoes in the produce
section, something my wife and I specifically wanted to buy. As we left the store parking lot, we saw some people selling bags of
potatoes out of a trailer. I could not help but wonder if they bought all the potatoes in the store and were selling them for a
premium. Later that night, I heard a news story of someone doing just that with toilet paper! As lawyers, we should never take unfair advantage of a world or community crisis.
For example, Standard No. 13 states, “Lawyers shall not knowingly file or serve motions, pleadings or other
papers at a time calculated to unfairly limit other counsel’s opportunity to respond or to take unfair advantage of an opponent,
or in a manner intended to take advantage of another lawyer’s unavailability.” Utah Jud. Admin. Rule 14-301.
Any effort to take unfair advantage of our world crisis should be frowned upon. Don’t do it!
Standards 14 and 15 – Scheduling with Civility
Lawyers should teach their clients that the lawyer reserves the right to determine whether to grant accommodations to others
in all matters not directly affecting the merits of a cause or prejudicing a client’s rights. This includes extensions of time
and continuances. See id. (Standard No. 14). Lawyers should also consult with other counsel so that depositions, hearings,
and conferences are scheduled at mutually convenient times, and they should cooperate in making reasonable adjustments.
See id. (Standard No. 15). Lawyers should not request extensions solely for the purposes of delay or tactical advantage. See id.
(Standard No. 14).
These Standards may be some of the most difficult ones to apply during these times. Many continuances and extensions of time
have occurred and will necessarily occur because of coronavirus. The line between a courteous extension and prejudice to a client’s rights is not a bright one. Making these determinations will require “professional integrity in the fullest sense of those terms.” Counsel should endeavor to accommodate each other as much as possible, while continuing to zealously advocate their clients’ legitimate rights. This may require all of us to learn to effectively use alternate means of continuing our work such as remote depositions and hearings. In every instance, even when counsel cannot agree on scheduling matters, civility and courtesy should remain paramount.
Conclusion
These worst of times can bring out the best in each of us. As lawyers, we can help set the tone for how our community and
the world respond to current events, making it a spring of hope instead of a winter of despair, a season of light instead of darkness.
See Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, p. 1, (1859). We must find ways to continue to zealously advocate justice for our clients,
while at the same time looking for solutions to societal problems in a rational, peaceful, and efficient manner. Let us all practice
professional integrity in the fullest sense of those terms for the betterment of our clients and our society during these trying times.
Contact: Keith A. Call
Originally appeared in the Utah State Bar Journal May/June 2020.
