ELI STONE - Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink

Does anybody in TV court rooms ever drink from the customary pitcher of water on their table?  Just something I think about whenever I watch Eli Stone.  I have yet to see one person on the show drink a glass of water while in court - and I've watched every episode.

I think in real life you'd probably have a drink of water.  If you're an attorney, you want to keep your throat from getting parched during cross examinations.  If you're a defendant, you'd be nervous and would likely want something to occupy yourself.  Either way, you've got to get thirsty after hours in the court room.  Yes, I think in real life you would drink from the pitcher the court so generously provides.

So, as a viewer, I am hereby requesting that in upcoming episodes of Eli Stone (or Boston Legal for that matter), a character takes a drink of water in court.

I clearly spend too much time thinking about things that are not important.

--Dave Campbell

*UPDATED!*  Thanks go to reader Ksal, who explains why in real life nobody drinks the water in court:

"Actually, I am a lawyer, and for the most part, lawyers (and their clients) are not supposed to drink water unless they have to. Why? Because the jurors don't have water and they're not allowed to drink it.  You don't want the jurors resenting you for your ability to drink cool clear water while they're dying of thirst!"

Comments

[KSal]

Actually, I am a lawyer, and for the most part, lawyers (and their clients) are not supposed to drink water unless they have to. Why? Because the jurors don't have water and they're not allowed to drink it. You don't want the jurors resenting you for your ability to drink cool clear water while they're dying of thirst!

[Jenn]

I never noticed! But, now that I look at it, it's kind of a vile looking container to keep water in, and I'd just as soon not take a drink out of a pitcher that looks like it ought to hold syrup or dirty water. Bleh.

And - that's fascinating! Poor thirsty jurors.

[Karen]

I'm an attorney too and attorneys always drink the water while at trial. In fact, most the time around here, the first thing attorneys do when they come into court to start each day of trial is fill his/her cups.

[Fala]

I'm siding with KSal and speaking as a potential juror: why not just let everyone drink water? I mean, if you have to sit there all day, with nothing to drink can't that be considered inhumane because you're putting someone at risk for dehydration?

BTW LOVE the show! LOVE the show!