Judge: Listening to Lawyers is Hard Work

It isn't easy trying to pay close attention to lawyers talking in court, because they can be quite boring, says a senior Australian judge.

Too often, complains Justice Peter Young, traditional presentations to the court lack drama, and may not even be particularly relevant to the case, reports the Australian, a Sydney newspaper. Young is chief judge in the New South Wales Supreme Court's equity division.

"Sitting and listening for two hours at a time is not conducive to being wildly alert ... unfortunately too, the majority of cross-examination one hears is boring, useless and asked in monotone," Young writes in the Australian Law Journal.

On the other hand, though, a lawyer can be too interesting, according to earlier comments by the judge. He has previously provoked criticism by complaining that "well-built" women lawyers should dress more modestly, the newspaper notes.