Court Attire- do you dress up?

[mjantz]

Yes, I dressed up when I had jury duty. If I was going to court I would probably dress even nicer than I dressed for JD. Possibly a suit. *old lady hat* I lament that people don't seem to know how to dress for occasions anymore. I'm in no way saying we should dress in formal attire 24/7. However, IMO, if you are going to court your clothes should be clean & neat. If jeans & a solid colored t-shirt is the best you have, wear it. Just don't pick it up off the floor wrinkled & dirty & pull it on before court.

One of the things I loved about being in Europe last summer was how nicely everyone dressed (except for the manpris/ not a fan!). Much nicer overall in my experience than here in the US.

 

[Geoff_M]

Years ago I went with a friend to traffic court to be a witness for a parking ticket he was fighting. I will never forget the college aged kid that had his case right before my friend's. The kid was trying to fight a "too fast for conditions" ticket after he lost control in a heavy rain storm when he hit a puddle and hit a phone pole. I not making this up... this kid wore a t-shirt that read "Northern Illinois Party Animal". The kid didn't have a prayer from the get go... The exchange with the Judge went like this:

Judge: "What happened exactly?"
Kid: "I was driving down the road when I hit a puddle, hydroplaned, and then hit the pole. I don't think I should have gotten the ticket because it was raining so hard that I couldn't see the puddle!"
Judge: "Son, did it ever occur to you that if the visibility was so poor that you couldn't see the road in front of you that you should have slowed down? What you've described is pretty much the textbook definition of 'Too Fast For Conditions'."
Kid: "But... I couldn't see the puddle!"

He got nailed for the ticket plus court costs.

 

[CathrynRose]

Hahaha! Funny you said this. My g/f was just in court regarding the finalization of her divorce. Her status:

My Friend: It's very entertaining to watch all the scumbags in the courthouse wearing their "court clothes" and trying to act like normal people.

 

[castmember19]

I've never been in court so I've never thought of how I'd dress if I was... but I'd be willing to assume that I'd dress at least a little nicely. I have a lot of business-type little dresses and stuff for student teaching and I don't miss an opportunity to wear them (I love dressing up.) Slacks is a different story though, I'm 5'1" and everything is much too long so I have yet to own a pair. So I would hope a dress would be appropriate.

It does remind me though, once I had a group job interview and I was the only one who dressed up. The other two wore jeans and polos. I don't know if that's dressed up enough, but I felt silly next to them. And apparently it didn't matter since all three of us were offered the job.

 

[miralys]

Never been in court (knock on wood) but if I had to appear, I would dress appropriately. I have a dress suit that only comes out of the closet for just this sort of events.

I was taught that dressing appropriately is a sign of respect, both for yourself and others around you.

 

[DVC-Don]

I used to be in court one day a week for years and always wore either a suit or uniform. Course I was never the one charged with a violation or crime.

 

[Andtototoo]

I work next to the building that does traffic court. The subway is in this building and an underground tunnel connects my building with this one, so when it rains I go to the food court there. The cast of characters that are eating lunch there is always worth the heart burn. In large cities, your best chance of beating the case isn't in how you dress, but what the district attorney has to do that day. My cousin was a district attorney, with traffic and child services being your first jobs. If my cousin had new carpet coming that afternoon, it was make a deal day and your case never saw the inside of court.

There is no DA here unless the case goes to trial. 99% of all cases in our municipal court are decided solely by the judge. The judge sees you, you see the judge. Then they broadcast it on our local cable channel and everyone sees you (it's the highest rated program on the channel, btw).

 

[Bob NC]

I had a court date last Wednesday for a traffic ticket. I hope my lawyer dressed nicely, cuz I didn't go.

 

[S. C.]

Hahaha! Funny you said this. My g/f was just in court regarding the finalization of her divorce. Her status:

My Friend: It's very entertaining to watch all the scumbags in the courthouse wearing their "court clothes" and trying to act like normal people.

Hmmmmmm .....

 

[daisax]

I remember years and years ago, when People's Court was a big, new thing, that people would show up on that in curlers and some comic asking "Exactly where are you going later on today that's so important that you are going on trial on national television in your curlers?"

 

[PatsMom]

When I went to court for my divorce I do remember dressing up in a suit. I had taken a 1/2 day vacation and when I got to work everyone knew something interesting must have happened because I was wearing a suit instead of my usual blue jeans and sneakers!

I think if I were called for jury duty I would not dress up. I would just wear jeans and maybe a collared shirt instead of a T shirt.

 

[DisneyScraps]

just spent a significant amount of time in court as a witness. I was shocked at how people dress. One woman was wearing something close to what you described and I thought why?

Then I kind of got it, that was the nicest thing she had to wear.

I think a lot of those people just don't have nice clothes or have been taught how to show respect.

Certain judges require different things, one refuses to see anyone that is wearing shorts. Most make you tuck in all shirts. No hats are allowed on men (never seen one on a woman)

I dress like I am going to an interview. Pure respect. Last time I had a speeding ticket I went up to the DA ahead of time, they let you do that here. She said to me "you didn't mean to do it did you?" I said "no ma'am" She DISMISSED it right then and there.

I will take that any day!

 

[Pugsley]

The last two times I went to court, I wore shorts and a tee shirt. I pay their wages. I will dress as I please when I go to jury duty.

 

[daisax]

The last two times I went to court, I wore shorts and a tee shirt. I pay their wages. I will dress as I please when I go to jury duty.

Next time you question how a jury could come up with a ridiculous verdict...

 

[dhcoffey]

The last two times I went to court, I wore shorts and a tee shirt. I pay their wages. I will dress as I please when I go to jury duty.

I have only been to court once for something other than jury duty. I was in the Army at the time, so I went in uniform (required by the Army).

Sorry, not around here you wouldn't wear what you want. Our court has very specific rules, no shorts being one of them. They will not let you in the courtroom in shorts. Your Tshirts also cannot have any writing on them. If they do, you have to turn them inside out. I've seen people who are not from one of the towns I work in have to go buy pants to come in court. If you don't comply, you'll be held in contempt. Same with the cell phones. If you bring one in and are caught with it, you get fined.

Heather

 

[Andtototoo]

The last two times I went to court, I wore shorts and a tee shirt. I pay their wages. I will dress as I please when I go to jury duty.

Weren't you the guy bragging on how your son won a "Gentleman of the Year" award and how important it was for men to act like men? Last I knew, part of being a 'gentleman' included showing respect and being a man included the willingness to endure some minor discomfort -- like wearing proper clothing.

 

[ChrisFL]

I wear bright orange...they tell me I have to







j/k!! Besides traffic court, where I did dress up, I've never had to be in court for anything.

 

[monkeyboy]

I wear bright orange...they tell me I have to

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Weren't you the guy bragging on how your son won a "Gentleman of the Year" award and how important it was for men to act like men? Last I knew, part of being a 'gentleman' included showing respect and being a man included the willingness to endure some minor discomfort -- like wearing proper clothing.

I do not feel that the courts deserve any special "respect". Not sure where you guys get this from. It is silly to me. The judge is no better than me. Why should I dress up for him/her? Heck, the man that I loved and respected most in this world would have laughed at the notion that anyone dressed up for him.

This is about the courts power. They use everything that they have to intimidate you. It has nothing to do with respect. But you do what you please. Just think twice about why these demands are being made of you. People who are deserving of respect will not care what you are wearing.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Sorry, not around here you wouldn't wear what you want. Our court has very specific rules, no shorts being one of them. They will not let you in the courtroom in shorts. Your Tshirts also cannot have any writing on them. If they do, you have to turn them inside out. I've seen people who are not from one of the towns I work in have to go buy pants to come in court. If you don't comply, you'll be held in contempt. Same with the cell phones. If you bring one in and are caught with it, you get fined.

Heather

If the law specified that I wear "xxx", I would meet that standard. Not out of respect for the court, or the judge, but out of respect for the law.