The Story of the Cat’s “Meow” & Professionalism

While there is little doubt that you have heard about the lawyer appearing on a Zoom court hearing while stuck behind a cat filter, I believe the situation calls for a pause to applaud the professionalism with which it was handled. Story

There are many stories in the news about nasty exchanges among lawyers and inappropriate use of technology and social media–some inadvertent and others intentional.

So…I just want to note that the “cat story” could have turned nasty, but instead both attorneys and the judge took it in stride.

In fact, the judge tweeted, “These fun moments are a by-product of the legal profession’s dedication to ensuring that the justice system continues to function in these tough times. Everyone involved handled it with dignity, and the filtered lawyer showed incredible grace. True professionalism all around!”

And the lawyer, told the New York Times, “If I can make the country chuckle for a moment in these difficult times they’re going through, I’m happy to let them do that at my expense,”

So while it remains a tenet of ethics and professionalism to understand the benefits and disadvantages of technology, it’s great to see that a bit of patience and a touch of humor go a long way towards maintaining grace and dignity in our profession.