Judge More Dreadful On Paper Than In Person

Hi, the inevitable came to pass - my teenager and I had to sit in front of a district judge for a directions hearing this afternoon, along with three out of the four defendants, as one of them failed to turn up. I have to say the judge didn't seem as formidable in person as he does on paper. I managed to get some of the things I wanted at the directions hearing but that was probably more to do with the fact that the judge himself wanted to cover his back because he knew his case management was and still is very definitely very questionable??? The judge who came across to me, as an egotistical slightly theatrical man (he constantly spoke with a raised voice, as if he was on a stage) - in my opinion still overlooked and thwarted certain case management aspects, which I believe are essential to receiving a fair trial, so perhaps I will still continue with my appeal after all...