Why do I freeze up in the courtroom?

Standing up in a courtroom and feeling your mind go blank is a fear many capable people carry. The room is built to feel weighty, and your body reacts to that. Freezing does not mean you are unfit for this work. It means the moment matters to you. Freezing usually eases when you give your mind a small anchor. A first sentence you have said many times. A breath before you speak. A note in front of you to return to. You do not have to be smooth. You only have to begin, and the rest tends to follow. Before your next appearance, write down your opening line and practice it until it is automatic. When the fear rises, say that one line. Starting is what breaks the freeze.