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What Should I Wear to My New York Criminal Court Hearing?
What Should I Wear to My New York Criminal Court Hearing?
Why Does What I Wear Matter for Court?
What you wear demonstrates respect for the judge and judicial process. As one New York criminal defense lawyer on Reddit explains:
“Judges expect a certain level of decorum and respect for the court that is communicated by how people dress. While the judge won’t necessarily hold informal attire against you, wearing more formal business clothing shows you take the proceedings seriously.”[1]
Proper attire also influences how you are perceived by the judge, lawyers, and jury. Another lawyer emphasizes on Quora:
“Your appearance and conduct tell a story about you. By dressing professionally for court, you convey self-respect, credibility, and trustworthiness.”[2]
So while the court cannot deny you entry or fair treatment based on your clothing, having an appropriate courtroom wardrobe helps advance your case.
New York Courtroom Attire Standards
New York courts do not have an official dress code, but most advise wearing professional business attire similar to what is expected in an office setting. Some basic standards according to FindLaw include:[3]
- Men should wear a suit and tie, dress pants and a button-down shirt, or at minimum a dress shirt with a sports jacket and tie.
- Women should wear a business dress, dressy blouse with skirt or dress pants, or pant suit.
- Clothing should be clean, pressed, and avoid bold patterns or large logos.
- Shoes should be professional dress shoes – leather or suede oxfords for men or closed-toe heels for women. Avoid casual sandals or sneakers.
If appearing before a jury, more formal business attire makes the best impression compared to a judge-only trial. However, standards do depend somewhat on the specific court and type of case.
Lawyers commenting on an Avvo forum offer additional suggestions when appearing for arraignments and minor offense hearings:[4]
“Dark-colored suits are best. For small traffic violations and misdemeanors, business casual like khakis and a sports jacket tend to be fine.”
“I would stay away from light colors or anything loud. Stick to well-fitting neutral colors and fabrics.”
So while a full business suit may not be necessary for minor proceedings, avoid shorts, ripped jeans, graphic t-shirts, tank tops, crop tops, and other casual wear.
Courtroom Security and Logistics
In addition to meeting courtroom attire standards, it helps to dress appropriately for navigating security checks at New York courthouses. LawInfo recommends: [5]
“Wear simple clothing without extraneous metal buttons, snaps, or embroidery that could set off metal detectors. Belts and jewelry are also common items that must be removed for scanning.”
The New York State Unified Court System prohibits weapons and other contraband items from courthouses. So leave pocket knives, mace, scissors, and other sharp objects at home.
Court facilities often lack storage space, so only bring essential documents in a padfolio or small bag. Backpacks, large purses, laptop bags, and luggage must be checked.
Since you may spend long periods sitting on hard courtroom benches, pick comfortable shoes and attire with some stretch that allows you to move easily without wrinkling.
Layers also help adapt to overly hot or cold rooms. A sweater or blazer can be removed once seated inside the courtroom if needed.
What Not to Wear to a New York Criminal Court
Along with understanding what’s appropriate to wear, it also helps to know specific clothing, accessories, and styles that compromise your image or get you denied entry. Items to absolutely avoid according to criminal lawyers include:
Inappropriate Content: Clothing with offensive images, political slogans, drug/alcohol references, or provocative messages
Revealing Garments: Excessively short skirts, sleeveless shirts, tank tops, crop tops, low-cut blouses
Casual Wear: Flip flops, sneakers, shorts, sweatpants, jeans with tears/holes
Headwear: Hats, bandanas, sunglasses
Costume Attire: Cosplay outfits or fantasy apparel
Excessive Jewelry/Piercings: Large hoop earrings, facial/body piercings
Exposed Tattoos: Highly visible neck, face or hand tattoos (cover with clothing if possible)
These types of clothing undermine perceptions of professionalism, credibility, and mental fitness – which can all impact the case outcome.
While court officials may let you enter wearing informal attire, a judge can hold you in contempt of court for refusing to comply with orders to adjust inappropriate dress in the courtroom. So play it safe by sticking to traditional business wear.
What to Wear for Jail Release Court Appearances
If attending a criminal hearing directly after release from jail, you likely won’t have suitable court clothes. But showing up in prison garb or uniforms sends the wrong message and undermines perceptions.
One criminal lawyer on Avvo advises released inmates to “wear whatever you have that is dark-colored and presentable.”[6]
For those without presentable personal clothing, some jails provide transitioning inmates with donated business apparel upon release. If unavailable from corrections staff, ask a family member or friend to bring suitable attire for changing into before the hearing.
When in Doubt, Dress More Formally
It’s understandable to have questions about balancing courtroom dress codes with personal style and self-expression. But when in doubt, traditional formal business attire makes the best impression at criminal proceedings according to most lawyers.
One New York defense attorney emphasizes in a LawInfo video: [7]
“Always dress more formally than you think you should. It shows respect for the judge and leaves no question that you take the charges seriously.”
So wearing an old faded band t-shirt or ripped styled jeans might seem like no big deal to you. But sticking to well-fitting khakis and a polo or button-down shows the court you deserve respect in return.
Getting through the criminal justice process involves many challenges. But dressing appropriately for court helps relieve some stress so you can focus energy on your defense.
Resources
For more perspectives and examples on dressing for New York criminal cases, check out the following:
Articles:
Videos:
Reddit Discussions: