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How Should I Dress For Court?

I am often asked, how should I dress for court?  The unwritten rules are the same, whether the court is located in Ohio courts in Medina, Akron, Wooster, or any other city that has a courthouse.  Lawyers have a clear rule: male lawyers wear a minimum of a jacket and tie and usually a suit and tie; female lawyers wear a suit or other professional attire.  If you see an attorney wearing anything else, you will usually hear the attorney apologize for their appearance and that they only learned of the court hearing at the last minute.

Do You Have To Dress Like An Ohio Lawyer?

 

While the court will not usually require you to dress a certain way, it is a good idea to dress in a way that shows respect for the court. For men, this would consist of a nice pair of slacks and a dress shirt.  Some men choose to wear a suit for trial.  For women, this would consist of a nice pair of slacks or dress with a nice blouse or sweater.

What You Should Not Wear In An Ohio Court

 

I will now address how not to dress for court. You should never wear a sleeveless t-shirt, clothing with holes, shorts, baseball caps, headbands, and t-shirts with offensive sayings or pictures.  Many courts will order you out of the courtroom if you show up wearing such things.  Some will even issue a warrant for your arrest if you fail to return on time wearing acceptable clothing for court.  Clothing that would normally be acceptable at a nightclub may not be acceptable in court.  Examples include skimpy black dresses and funky shirts, both of which may look good on the dance floor, but not so good in court.  People may get some slack for wearing dirty work clothing, but it would be a good idea to apologize to the court and explain that you came straight from work.   A better practice would be to bring a quick change of clothes and clean up and change in the court’s bathroom.

Ohio Court Wardrobe Challenges For Prisoners

 

If you are incarcerated, dressing properly is usually excused, but can be a challenge for trial. For any pretrial hearings before the court, you will be arriving in jail-issued clothing.  However, for a jury trial, you should follow the rules on how to dress for court set forth in the second paragraph above.  A jury will judge you on how you look.  If you look like a prisoner, they will think of you as a prisoner.  This would not be a good way to start your case.  Sometimes, your attorney will make arrangements.  However, the better practice is to get your friends or family to bring your appropriate clothing for you to wear.  Your clothing will likely fit better than anything your lawyer brings for you.

Dress For Success In Ohio Courts

 

Many people tell me that they cannot afford to dress this way for court. The lowest cost solution is to purchase second-hand clothing.  Looking for sales is a way to buy new clothing at a good price.

Some people object to wearing such clothing, stating that it does not reflect their personality. The courtroom is not the place for personal fashion statements.  Attorneys save their personal fashion statements for their personal lives, but dress for success in the courtroom.  Someone with a personal stake in the outcome in court should do the same.

More Ohio Court Articles

 

Take a look at some of my other articles: parental rights discussion; choosing between divorce and dissolution in Ohio; how to tell a misdemeanor from a felony in Ohio; facing the music outside of Ohio; and Ohio tests for DUI. I have successfully represented my clients in court, as set forth in the case highlights section. My hard work and results are reflected in the positive reviews from my clients: Daniel Gigiano reviews; Daniel Gigiano ratings; working with Daniel Gigiano; and Daniel Gigiano work.

Ohio Attorney Daniel Gigiano Dresses For Success For His Clients

 

If you have questions about how to dress for court or other questions you need answered by an experienced Rittman lawyer in Medina County, please call Attorney Daniel F. Gigiano at 330-336-3330.  Daniel Gigiano is a Wadsworth lawyer located at 102 Main St., Ste. 200, Wadsworth, Ohio 44281.