On the whole judges take a very dim view of people wasting their time. Simply because it is a gig like job. That is to say they never know how long a trial is to take and so can't plan ahead for any significant period of time. So if they have to turn up to a case where it was not worth turning up to I know I would be miffed for sure. Especially against and extension of the government like the HMRC.

Really it would make a good book to write about the ins and outs of the legal system.

Or maybe that is just because I miss Rumpole of the Bailey ;)