Nicole Tong shares about one of her first trials as a young attorney in Judge Tonya Parker’s court. It was a multi-party case with mostly male attorneys. One morning before the jury came in, Judge Parker addressed all the attorneys. She stated that it was her policy that all counsel refer to each other formally as Mr. [last name] or Ms. [last name] in her courtroom. While likely inadvertent, many of the male attorneys had referred to each other formally, while referring to female attorneys and paralegals by their first names only. The small, but important correction she made helped level the playing field in her courtroom and, very importantly, before the jury. It has long stood out in my mind and continues to mean a lot to me.
#internationalwomensday #iwd2021
