How to Attend Court with Asthma

Attending a court proceeding can be stressful enough, but suffering from asthma as well can make it very difficult. Not to mention the fact that the stress just seems to make it worse. Unfortunately, if you’re facing a lawsuit in court, you need to attend. But there are things you can do to relieve some of the stress and here are a few suggestions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Your puffer and other meds

1. If you have a lawyer, make it known right off the bat that you have asthma and it will be noted in the court record and brought to the judge’s attention at the start of the trial.
2. If you represent yourself in court, then you must tell the court office so they can make note of it in your file, so that the judge can be made aware of it at the onset of the proceeding.
3. Bring your puffer with you to court and have your lawyer remind the judge of the need for you to use your puffer during the proceedings. If you represent yourself, you will need to stand and mention this to the judge at the beginning of the trial.
4. If your asthma is severe and you cannot be congested into a busy courtroom with other people, you need to bring this to the courtroom clerk’s attention before trial so that they are aware that you are present, and then you can wait in the open waiting area outside until your name is called.
5. If you cannot stay in the courtroom during the proceeding, then you need to have the judge informed of this at the trial onset and then wait outside in the open area.
6. If you are a party to the proceeding and are not able to remain inside the courtroom, then you need to have representation such as a lawyer or paralegal or agent who can remain present during the proceeding on your behalf.

Tips & Warnings

• Most judges are very respectful of individual’s medical needs, and when the circumstances are brought to their attention they usually work with the individuals to make them as comfortable as possible.