20 Questions to Ask a Judge
Questions a self-represented person can reasonably put to a judge in open court: what the hearing is deciding, how long you have to speak, what has been filed, what the next date is, and what to do if you cannot comply with an order. A judge cannot give you legal advice, so the guide below also covers where those questions belong. If you are not in a case and simply want to talk with a judge about the job, the questions to ask a judge set is written for that.
The questions
Open any question for the note
May I ask a procedural question before we begin?
Why ask it
Asking permission first is the safest opening, because a judge will usually allow a procedural question and will stop you if the timing is wrong. It also signals that you know the difference between procedure and argument.
Could you explain what this hearing is meant to decide?
Why ask it
Self-represented people often prepare for the wrong question, arriving ready to argue the whole case at a hearing about scheduling. The answer tells you what is in front of the court today and what has to wait.
I did not follow that. Could you say it again in plainer words?
Why ask it
Judges use terms of art constantly and will generally restate them if asked. Saying nothing and guessing is the more common and more costly mistake.
When it is my turn, how long do I have and when should I stop?
Why ask it
Time limits vary widely between courts and calendars, and running long can cost you the point you cared about most. Knowing the limit lets you lead with your strongest fact instead of your background.
May I read from my notes?
Why ask it
Most courts allow it, and asking removes the worry that you will be told off mid sentence. If the answer is yes, keep the notes to one page so you do not lose your place.
Do you have my filed documents in front of you?
Why ask it
Filings go missing, arrive late, or sit in another file. Confirming this early avoids arguing about a document the court has not seen.
Should I hand this document to you or to the clerk?
Why ask it
Handing anything directly to a judge is usually not the correct route, and the clerk or bailiff will take it instead. Asking avoids an awkward correction in front of the room.
Has the other side filed anything I have not received?
Why ask it
You are entitled to see what the court is reading. If something was filed and not served on you, saying so now is the moment to ask for time to respond.
Is there an interpreter available, and how do I request one?
Why ask it
Courts commonly provide interpreters, and requests usually have to be made in advance rather than on the day. Raising it early is better than struggling through a hearing you only half follow.
What happens next in this case, and what is the next date?
Why ask it
Leaving without the next date is one of the most common self-represented errors, and a missed date can end a case. Write down the date, the time and the room before you leave.
Is there anything I am required to file or send before that date?
Why ask it
Deadlines between hearings are where most cases are lost, and they are easy to miss when nobody is managing them for you. Ask what the document is called, not just that one is due.
Am I required to send copies of my filings to the other side?
Why ask it
Service is a separate obligation from filing, and papers filed without proper service are often disregarded. The answer usually includes a method and a deadline, so write both down.
Should I direct this question to the clerk's office or the self-help centre instead?
Why ask it
A judge cannot give you legal advice, but can tell you which office handles a given question. Asking this openly is faster than trying legal questions that will be refused.
Am I allowed to contact your chambers if something changes before the next hearing?
Why ask it
In most courts you are not, because one-sided contact with a judge is prohibited, and the answer will point you to the correct channel. Asking prevents a serious mistake made in good faith.
If I cannot attend on that date, what is the process for asking to move it?
Why ask it
There is nearly always a formal process with a form, a deadline and a requirement to tell the other side. Simply not appearing is treated very differently from a request made in advance.
How will I be told what you decide?
Why ask it
Decisions may be announced from the bench, posted, or mailed weeks later, and the method affects how long your response window is. Ask when the clock on any appeal or objection starts.
Is a recording or transcript of today available, and how do I obtain one?
Why ask it
You often need the transcript for any later challenge, and it usually must be requested and paid for. Requesting it late can be much more expensive or impossible.
Are there any orders in effect now that I need to be sure I understand?
Why ask it
Existing orders about contact, payment or property can be breached accidentally by someone who has not read them closely. Ask for the terms to be stated plainly and repeat them back.
What happens if I cannot comply with part of that order?
Why ask it
Saying so in court is treated very differently from failing quietly and being brought back. The answer usually involves a formal request to change the order rather than an informal excuse.
Is there anything else the court needs from me today?
Why ask it
This closes the hearing cleanly and catches the item nobody mentioned, often a form, a signature or an address update. It takes ten seconds and can save a return trip.
Speaking to a Judge Without a Lawyer
Practical guidance for the conversation itself
What a Judge Can and Cannot Answer
Procedure Yes, Advice No
A judge can tell you how the hearing will run, what the next step is and what a term means. A judge cannot tell you what to argue, whether to settle, or whether you are likely to win, because that would be advising one side of a case they have to decide.
Where the Advice Questions Belong
The clerk's office can usually explain forms, fees and filing steps. Many courts also have a self-help centre or duty scheme, and local legal aid or law school clinics may give free advice on the substance. Ask the clerk which of these exists in your court.
No Contact Outside the Courtroom
Writing, calling or emailing a judge about a live case without the other side present is generally prohibited. Anything you want the judge to read normally has to be filed with the court and copied to the other side.
Ask Before You Speak
Wait until you are invited, then say that you have a question about procedure. Interrupting is the fastest way to lose the goodwill that makes short questions get answered.
Before the Hearing
- 1Find out what this specific hearing is for. The notice usually says, and the clerk's office can confirm.
- 2Write your questions on one page, procedural ones at the top, and leave room to write the answers.
- 3Bring the papers you have filed, the papers you have received, and something to write with.
- 4Check the start time and the room, and arrive early enough to get through security and find the courtroom.
- 5Decide the single most important fact you want the judge to hear, in one sentence, in case you get very little time.
- 6Write down the date, the deadline and the next step before you leave the building.
Common Mistakes
Nodding Along
Agreeing to something you did not understand is worse than asking twice. If a term or a date is unclear, say so before the hearing moves on.
Arguing the Whole Case at the Wrong Hearing
Many hearings decide one narrow issue. Spending your time on matters the court is not deciding today usually means the point that mattered goes unheard.
Leaving Without the Next Date
A missed hearing can end a case or lead to an order made without you. Confirm the date, time and location out loud before you go.
Treating the Judge as an Adviser
Repeatedly asking what you should do puts the judge in a position they cannot occupy, and the refusals can start to sound like hostility. Keep those questions for the clerk, a self-help centre or a lawyer.