be up before (someone)

1. To appear or be presented in front of someone, especially a person or body of authority. He was up before the judge for yet another misdemeanor. I will be up before a panel of professors to defend my thesis this afternoon. I'm so glad I got my presentation over with early in the semester because my roommates are up before the rest of the class soon, and they are panicking.

2. To be awake before another person or animal. Please don't make too much noise if you're up before me in the morning. I'm a farmer, so most mornings I'm up before the birds. Mom already went out? Well, that makes sense—she's always up before us on Saturdays.