Musar for Shevuot 60:7
רב בר שרביא הוה ליה דינא קמיה דרב פפא אותביה ואותיב נמי לבעל דיניה אתא שליחא דבי דינא בטש ביה ואוקמיה לעם הארץ ולא אמר ליה רב פפא תיב היכי עביד הכי והא מסתתמן טענתיה אמר רב פפא מימר אמר איהו הא אותבן שליחא הוא דלא מפייס מינאי
Rab son of R'Sherabya had a case before R'Papa. He told him to sit, a told his opponent also to sit; but the attendant of the court came and nudged<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'kicked.' [Omitted in some texts; v. D.S. a.l.]');"><sup>14</sup></span> the illiterate man and made him stand up.
Shenei Luchot HaBerit
ולא תהדר פני גדול . The Torah has to mention this in connection with litigation. Whereas normally one is certainly urged to honor Torah scholars (19,32), in case of litigation a display of deference for a litigant who is widely acclaimed may confuse the other party so that he cannot present his arguments coherently. By pandering to the important litigant, one is, in effect, pandering to the "great accuser," giving him ammunition against us. Nonetheless, one must also fulfill the commandment of honoring Torah scholars. One does this by inviting both litigants to be seated during the proceedings, just like the judges.
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