If you’ve ever been in a courtroom or even watched a court proceeding on TV (even if it was a TV show), you’ll see how people dress for court. Some look polished and well put together, while others look like hood rats. If you were on a jury and someone dressed inappropriately, you’d most likely have negative thoughts about the defendant, and here’s why…
How to Dress For Court
So why should you wear a suit and tie (men), or blouse/pants/skirt/dress (ladies) when going to a court appearance? Because society has deemed a courtroom to be a place of decorum and show respect for the law. Dressing in t-shirts, jeans and wearing flip flops will not get you much respect form the judge or jury. Your attorney will probably have something to say to you about this matter as well.
You’re in a fight for your freedom. The last thing you want to do is make yourself appear as if you don’t care about the court proceedings. I’m sure if you Google “how to dress for court” you’ll find some additional tips and also some videos (like the one below) on how to and how not to dress for court.
Dress Code For Court Appearances
Wear clothes that are formal, like the clothes you would wear to an important job interview. These are standard across most courts in the United States and especially in California:
- MEN: wear shoes with socks, long pants, collared shirt (please tuck the shirt in), a tie and jacket
- WOMEN: wear closed toe shoes, a dress, skirt or long pants, blouse, sweater or casual dress shirt
What might have you barred from court:
Believe it or not, some people don’t know how to dress for court. Friends and family attending your court hearings should also dress appropriately. Beg them to do so or they may be barred from the courtroom.
- Shorts
- Hats (men) or hair curlers (women)
- Halter or tube top
- T-shirt or muscle shirt
- See through tops
- Flip flops
- Clothing that exposes your midriff or underwear
- Ripped or torn jeans
- Baggy pants (busting a sag??)
- Clothing with an emblem or wording that promotes illegal or inappropriate activity
- Clothing that depicts or promotes violence, sex acts, illegal drug use or profanity
How NOT to Dress For a Court Appearance
Turn off your cell phone in court
One last important thing to mention about going to court. With the above mentioned about what to wear in court, and what not to wear; there is also the inappropriate use of cell phones. This is a court proceeding, everything you, the attorneys and the judge are working on are more important than answering a text from a friend. Turn off you cell phone. Leave the phone in your car, leave it with a friend at court – but whatever you do… don’t answer that phone in court.
We hope the information about what to wear in court helps. Bandito Bail Bonds of California wants you to know that all of our clients are important to use and we hope this information is extremely useful. If you need to talk with a bail bondsman, please call us 714.558.7765 or use the form to the right to get immediate bail consultation.
