The court is a solemn, formal place. You should try to wear something that would be acceptable in church or at a nice social function. The idea is to show that you respect the court and that you’re taking the issue seriously.
For men:
- A collared shirt with a tie (but if you don’t own a tie, just wear a collared shirt); long sleeves are preferable
Make sure you shave before court, or trim your facial hair neatly.
For women:
- Slacks or dress pants, or a dress or skirt that falls at or below your knees
- A dress shirt that isn’t revealing
Avoid extreme makeup or hairstyles that can detract from the court’s serious and subdued environment.
If you don’t have dress clothes, it’s okay – you can still be presentable for court. Work uniforms are acceptable in most cases, as long as they’re clean and in good repair.
What Not to Wear to Court
Don’t wear:
- Anything that bares your shoulders or legs
- Clothing that shows your underwear or bra
- Jeans, unless they’re the only long pants you have
- Open-toed shoes or sandals
- Tight clothes or exercise clothes
- Tops with spaghetti straps (or no straps)
- T-shirts unless that’s all you have (and then, make sure the T-shirt doesn’t have drug references or alcohol logos)
It’s not that the court would prefer you to wear dressier clothing – in some cases, people working at the court won’t even let you in if you’re wearing inappropriate attire. Then you’ll miss your court date, even though you were there, and you’ll cause yourself even more issues than those you’re already facing.
Do You Need to Talk to a Lawyer About Going to Court?