That’s a funny story, Raffi. In 1984, I was among the first crop of law clerks to act as bailiff and “knock in” the judges. I was told that once they were robed, I was to give the door three hard knocks and open the door. Which I did.
https://twitter.com/rmfifthcircuit/status/1333827576700264448
But I was standing on the wrong side of the door—I’d gone through the door, into the courtroom, and used my whole forearm for three hard knocks. Then I opened the door.
There was a loud voice on the other side, and the judges came in chortling and having a great time. Judge Reavley had bellowed, “Come in!” They thought it was hilarious.
But I was none the wiser until the hearing was over. After that, the bailiff’s instruction sheet was amended to say “knock the judges in from their side of the door.” I’ll never forget that.
For the rest of the day, people came by his chambers to say, “I heard you knocked in the judges!” Judge Reavley said, “We were knocked out by that.”
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