In the final analysis, who knows what will please the court? We hazard the answer that shorter briefs with fewer points might be a start. It is doubtful that any presiding appellate judge will admonish a lawyer for saying those words, but on the other hand, it might be worthwhile to just say, “Good Morning” or “Good Afternoon” (as the case may be). We do not wish to be understood as objecting to the time-honored phrase, but upon reflection, we’re not sure that it really serves a useful purpose. Example, a lawyer who is about to tell the judge that his client pleads not guilty may say something like, Your honor, based on the evidence and our matters of defense-if it pleases the court- the. If it pleases the court is a legal phrase meaning if the judge and jury here will find what I propose as reasonable. Newman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit expressed the view that the words, “May it Please the Court” may be the only words uttered by the lawyer that are not immediately challenged. Definition of if it pleases the court, which it does. The court will or will not be pleased by the arguments set forth in the briefs previously submitted. One such question is whether anything of importance is accomplished by starting an argument before an appellate court with, “May it please the Court.” What is accomplished by those words? Is it a lawyer’s way of expressing the hope that the words that follow will be a source of satisfaction to the judges? If so, it likely is a waste of time. With the advent of spring, we got to thinking about some of the “lighter” questions confronting our profession.

Wow if it please the court