If you are scheduled to appear in criminal court, remember that first impressions are very important. The judge, jury, and courtroom personnel will take notice of how you present yourself.
You want to dress in a way that demonstrates you respect the law, and you take the charges against you seriously. Whether you are contesting a traffic ticket or facing serious criminal charges, you must dress properly for court.
Essentially, you want to dress conservatively. For men, this means wearing a sports court, white or solid-color button-up shirt, a tie, slacks, belt/suspenders, and dress shoes. For women, dressing conservatively means wearing a business suit, pantsuit, dress below the knees, solid color blouses, and dress shoes.
The following are the types of clothing you should NOT wear in court:
T-shirts
Tank tops and sleeveless shirts
Athletic attire or exercise outfits
Anything considered too sexy, too revealing, or too dressy
Clothing that is not fitted correctly (i.e., too loose or too tight)
Hats
Shorts or cut=offs
Sandals or sneakers
Men and women should also take care of hygiene prior to their court appearance. Take a shower, brush your teeth, shave, use very light cologne or perfume, wear conservative makeup and nail polish, and avoid smelling like alcohol, cigarettes, or marijuana.
When it comes to tattoos, hide as much as possible and avoid showing your bare legs or shoulders. For piercings, please remove jewelry before you enter the courtroom.
Although it may seem like a minor detail compared to the gravity of your case, what you wear may actually impact the outcome of your case.
If you or a loved one has been arrested in Lexington or Columbia, contact the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC today at (803) 359-3301 for a free initial consultation. Serving clients throughout Sourth Carolina since 2004.