Civility under pressure

Some years ago, a commentator opined that "civility within the legal system not only holds the profession together, but also contributes to the continuation of a just society", before adding that "conduct that may be characterised as hostile, or obstructive necessarily impedes the goal of resolving conflicts rationally, peacefully and efficiently, in turn delaying or even denying justice". This was hardly unheralded, given the historical backdrop to a profession being constituted by gentlemen, who would accordingly interact, among themselves and with others, in what could be described as a gentlemanly fashion.