what is the thing called that the judge holds
It is used by presiding officersânotably American judges, chairmen, and auctioneersâto call for attention or to punctuate rulings and proclamations. It is customarily struck to indicate the opening and closing of proceedings, giving rise to the phrase gavel-to-gavel to describe the entirety of a meeting or session. Robert's Rules of Order provides guidelines on the proper use of the gavel in deliberative assemblies.