Answers to the question, "What should I wear in court ?"
(Hint: Show Respect, Get Respect.)
By Attorneys Diana Knowles Dunlop and J. Erwin Dunlop. Copyright June, 2013.
General, quick answer: Proper dress for a court appearance is more formal than ordinary street clothes. Dress like you are going to a job interview for an executive position. A general rule: if you could wear it to the beach, don’t wear it into court.
The attorneys at Dunlop, Dunlop & Dunlop, P.A. have specific advice for what you should wear to court. This is developed from their extensive experience in representing people in court since 1995. These recommendations on what to wear in court are based on what works to give someone the best chance at showing that they respect the judge and the court proceedings. Showing that you respect the judge and the court proceeding is a legitimate and effective way to improve your image and gain for you respect from the judge. (Show respect; get respect.)
Specific Advice for Both Men and Women regarding how to dress when you go to court: Choose muted colors and simple patterns. No flashy jewelry. Take out body piercing jewelry or replace with small, plain studs. Pierced ears can have conservative jewelry in them. Cover tattoos, if possible. Do not wear a hat. Choose conservative fabrics. Avoid wearing denim ("jeans") material as it is perceived as very casual. Avoid leather and fur -- real and fake, as these fabrics can be perceived as too casual and can have aggressive or provocative associations. Do not wear clothing items that contain written words. Do not wear ribbons, pins, or symbols that send a specific message – wearing these types of items may cause the judge to think you are trying to gain the judge’s sympathy by wearing these items. This will backfire on you. Judges do not like it when people use inappropriate ways to try to manipulate the judge’s opinion. It should go without saying that you should wear clean clothing in good repair. However, some wealthy people have deliberately worn shabby clothing to court to try to make the judge think that they were poor. Again, do not try to use your clothing to try to manipulate a judge. The judge will see right through this trick.
How men should dress for a court appearance: Men should (1) wear a shirt and a tie, preferably a long-sleeved shirt and a regular tie. Tuck the shirt inside the pants, and be sure to wear a belt if the pants have belt loops; (2) wear long, regular pants – not jeans, not shorts; (3) wear hard soled, closed-top shoes – not sneakers, not sandals. Wear socks, but not white socks; and (4)wear the suit jacket to the pants or a conservative-colored sports jacket that goes with the pants. Men should wear long-sleeved jackets. No short-sleeved jackets should be worn by men in court, as they are perceived as too casual.
How women should dress for a court appearance: Women should (1) wear a non-sexy dress, or a non-sexy skirt and blouse, or a non-sexy pantsuit outfit – no low cut tops, no high slit skirts, no extremely short skirts, no outfits that expose or suggest that bare skin on the abdomen or rear end is likely to be exposed. Do not wear culottes, Capri pants, or shorts; (2) wear regular stockings or panty-hose. Avoid fishnet or overly-sexy stockings; (3) wear closed-toe or peep-toe shoes, either flats or heels. No sneakers, no sandals; (4) wear a jacket or sweater that coordinates with your outfit. If the dress or blouse has sleeves, women don’t have to wear a jacket, but if you have one that goes with the outfit, wear it. Women can wear a short-sleeved or a long-sleeved jacket in court.
Scarves and pocketbooks are acceptable accessories for women; however, you may not be able to take your pocketbook to the counsel table in the courtroom. Take out of your pocketbook paperwork that you want access to when you are at the counsel table.
"I’m afraid that if I dress in a suit, the judge will mistake me for an attorney or think that I’m trying to look like an attorney."
Do not be afraid that if you wear a jacket and a tie that the judge will mistake you for an attorney. It is okay if you and your attorney are dressed similarly. Attorneys dress formally to get the respect of the judge. You want to do the same.
Take this advice on what to wear in court, seriously. Court proceedings are formal, methodical proceedings, and judges tend to be very touchy about anything that they may see as a lack of respect.
Written by J. Erwin Dunlop and Diana Knowles Dunlop, Florida divorce law and paternity law attorneys at Dunlop, Dunlop & Dunlop, P.A., 2431 Aloma Ave., Ste. 150, Winter Park, FL 32792; phone (407) 628-4300; www.divorceorlando.net. Copyright 2013.
Ongoing Blog Topic: "How to Improve Your Chances at Getting the Best Outcome for Your Court Case." by attorneys, J. Erwin Dunlop and Diana Knowles Dunlop.
