Hearing officials have the duty to preside—to oversee each hearing, including managing the behavior of those in attendance. Presiding officials also have the duty to maintain proper demeanor—a form of judicial demeanor—that sets the example for other hearing participants. We must remain calm, unruffled, and dignified, despite what we are feeling and regardless of the behavior of others. That is easier said than done. We’ve all faced hearings with emotional or disruptive parties and most of us have developed techniques for handling such circumstances. After gathering in plenary to briefly discuss the problem, we’ll break into discussion groups to get acquainted and engage in facilitated discussions on how to handle these common but difficult situations. We will then reconvene to discuss the suggestions and recommendations of our colleagues and review our collective solution to this all-too-familiar dilemma.