How to Dress for a Court Appearance
When you dress for a court appearance, dress as if you were going for an important job interview.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Men's Dress Shirts
- Men's Dress Sweater
- Mens' Dress Pants
- Neckties
- Sports Coat
- Women's Dress Coats
- Women's Dress Pants
- Women's Dress Shirts
- Women's Dress Sweater
- dresses and skirts
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1
Understand that a courtroom is a formal, serious place and that judges are generally conservative.
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2
Choose clothing that you are comfortable wearing. You will look nervous and shifty if you are adjusting your clothing and constantly rearranging yourself in court.
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3
Avoid sneakers, trendy clothing, lots of jewelry, loud colors (especially red), revealing outfits, outrageous hairdos, and stained or damaged clothes. Do not wear a lot of perfume, cologne or aftershave. Wearing leather is not advisable.
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4
Wear a suit, dress, or blouse and skirt if you are a woman. Do not wear spike heels, sandals or open-toed shoes. Wear a bra and pantyhose even if it kills you. Be sure your bra and slip are not showing.
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5
Wear a suit, jacket and tie, or shirt and tie (only if you don't own a jacket) if you are a man. Never wear a hat.
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6
Remove your coat before entering the courtroom.
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7
Look as serious, reasonable, modest and ordinary as possible. You don't want to stand out or call attention to yourself.
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8
Take off any expensive pieces of jewelry if you are trying to get the court to award you money.
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9
Leave pocketknives, guns and any other weapons at home. They are not permitted in the courthouse.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Navy is always a good color to wear to court.
Any purses or bags you bring will have to be searched or x-rayed when you enter the building, so don't bring anything you don't want inspected.
Throw gum out before entering the courthouse.
Don't go crazy over your appearance. The judge isn't going to rule against you if he or she doesn't like your tie.
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Comments
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sen cox gozelsen
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extradoghouse
Oct 13, 2009
A suite or jacket and tie is not always the best choice! I tried to prosecute a fellow for threats and menacing behavior. (Because I was reporting illegal activites of all kinds in a 5 unit weekly rental). The defendent, a black man, showed up in work clothes. I appeared in a jacket and tie, formally dressed. The defense attorney made me look like a yuppie scum picking on the poor, working-class black man. -
SDKP
Jan 31, 2009
Great advice. Too many people dress sloppy and think that people "shouldn't" judge them by what they wear. The truth is, everyone does and they always will. You can use that to your advantage or your disadvantage. The choice is yours.
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SDKP
Jan 31, 2009
Great advice. Too many people dress sloppy and think that people "shouldn't" judge them by what they wear. The truth is, everyone does and they always will. You can use that to your advantage or your disadvantage. The choice is yours.
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Cafa
Oct 09, 2007
Great advice, thanks. I was in court yesterday, over an unclear subject (traffic violation) where it's my word against the other guy's word. I wore a leather jacket, jewelry, had a gum, didn't shave, didn't get enough sleep, and was nervous. Basically, I looked like a mobster who got caught. Next time I'll wear a blue suit and a wrist watch.
