FJDCR 1.7

(a) Conduct. Attorneys will:

(1) Be patient, dignified, respectful, and courteous to the judge, court staff, litigants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers, and others with whom the attorney deals in an official capacity;

(2) Conduct themselves in a civil and professional manner in and around the courthouse, the courtroom, and in the preparation of all pleadings and papers;

(3) Be on time for all conferences, hearings, and trials;

(4) Be prepared to participate fully in all conferences, hearings, and trials; and

(5) Not contact the judicial assistant, law clerk, or other judicial staff for legal advice, advice on how to proceed in any matter, or clarification concerning any order or other act of the court.

(b) Attorney of record in non-criminal cases.

(1) When an attorney has filed a pleading or paper in this court for a party or otherwise appeared in this court representing the party, that attorney is the party’s attorney of record until the attorney is released by order of the court upon motion, or the attorney withdraws under SCR 46 or 47.

(2) A party’s consent to the withdrawal of their attorney of record, a motion to substitute the party in the place of the attorney of record, or a motion to withdraw as attorney of record for a party, and the associated proposed order, must include the party’s current or last known physical and mailing address, telephone and mobile phone number, and email address.

(3) A party who has an attorney of record may act in their case only through their attorney. A party who has an attorney of record cannot file a pleading or paper without the attorney’s signature except to file notice that the party will, from the date the notice is filed and served, represent themself and proceed without an attorney. The court may in its discretion hear a party in open court even though the party is represented by an attorney.

(4) Substitution of an attorney by stipulation requires leave of court and must be signed by the attorney and the represented party. An attorney substituting into a case accepts all dates and deadlines then in effect under any statute, rule, or order.

(5) Discharge, withdrawal, substitution, or retaining an attorney will not alone be reason for delay of any deadline, hearing, or trial.

(6) Except for good cause shown, no withdrawal or substitution will be approved if delay of discovery, any hearing, trial, or any other matter would result. Where delay would result, the papers seeking leave of court for the withdrawal or substitution must include a request for specific relief from discovery deadlines, a hearing and/or trial date, or any other date or deadline.

(7) A stipulation and order permitting substitution or withdrawal of an attorney may be submitted ex parte if:

(A) The stipulation is signed by the party, the withdrawing attorney, and in the event of a substitution of attorney, by the substituting attorney; and

(B) The attorney substituting into the case acknowledges responsibility for all pending dates and deadlines; or

(C) The substitution is of the party in place of their attorney, and the stipulation includes the party’s physical and mailing address, telephone and mobile phone number, and email address.

(c) Except by specific order, no attorney will be permitted to withdraw within 21 days before a scheduled trial or evidentiary hearing.

(d) Any notice of withdrawal that does not comply with this rule shall be ineffective for any purpose.