What Should I Wear To Court?
When you appear in court, you are being judged. Everything about you is open to scrutiny by people who have power over your life. As such, your appearance in court should be designed to aid in your defense. By knowing your audience, you can be prepared to blunt a harsh or dismissive attitude and win your case. Here are some common-sense dos and don’ts for dressing for court.
DO wear conservative clothing that won’t make you stand out or draw attention to yourself. Take out visible piercings and cover your ink (if possible). Sleeves and collars are preferable and your shirt should not have writing of any type on it.
DON’T wear clothing that makes you appear young or identifies you as a fashion plate. Baseball caps, sleeveless shirts or provocative clothing has an effect on your audience. You may be unconsciously sending the message that you do not respect the court environment. Worse yet, you are telling everyone that you are different from them.
DO dress like you are going to church or a company outing. Business casual usually means no jeans and no sneakers.
DON’T wear dirty clothes, clothes with holes, revealing clothes, clothes that smell like cigarettes or pot, halter tops or shorts. You may have a really cool belly button and look great in a thong, but the Judge should not be able to make that determination.
DO shower, shave and brush your teeth.
DON’T use a lot of hair product and don’t wear a lot of bling. It is hard to argue for a payment plan if you have on a giant diamond-encrusted gold dollar sign necklace.
DO wear shoes.
DON’T wear shoes that show your toes. Flip-flops, nasty sneakers and high-heeled shoes have their place, but the courtroom is not it.
DO know where your are supposed to be and when you are supposed to be there. Your attorney should be able to tell you what Judge you have and when you should arrive. It is always better to be early rather than late.
DON’T bring your super-loud cell phone with its amazingly inappropriate ringtone to court. You will be required to pass through a metal detector so leave the guns and knives at home. You are also subject to search while in the courthouse.
DO know what is likely to happen in court. Your attorney is your guide throughout the court process. He or she should prepare you for everything (good and bad) that may happen. So many problems can be resolved by having a short conversation before you walk into court.
DON’T laugh, joke or make light of your predicament. The fastest way to have things go REALLY bad is to be rude to the court staff. Everything you do is either on video or subject to being reported to the judge so act accordingly.
Do be patient. Often the judge is meeting with multiple attorneys and/or resolving issues before he or she hits the courtroom. You are not being disrespected by being forced to wait.
DON’T talk loudly on your cell phone. Don’t blog, tweet or post on facebook about your court appearance (especially if it’s negative).
DO be prepared.
DON’T let them see you sweat. Remain calm and patient knowing that you and your attorney are prepared for whatever may come.
At Brown, Rowland, Babb & Campbell we pride ourselves on the relationships we build with our clients. From a returned phone call to taking the time to tell you what to expect when you go to court, we dedicate ourselves to providing the most client-friendly service of any firm you will ever encounter. Most of our attorney have 24 hour telephone numbers and most of our staff has the experience to get you answers right away. You are going through a traumatic experience and we are here to help you through it. Call us at (937)879-9542 and start getting the service you deserve. For more information on the court process, please visit www.ohioDUIblog.com and visit the Court Process section of the blog. You can also visit www.DaytonDUI.com for more information on attorney Charles M. Rowland II
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