COURTROOM ATTIRE IS IMPORTANT!
Make yourself look as attractive as possible (without violating the dress code)!
So in a study from Cornell University it was found that more attractive defendants were more likely than less pretty defendants to get lighter sentences. The less attractive defendants earned an average of 22 months longer in prison terms.
Dress codes are intended to keep order and show level of respect that one should grant the justice system. Judges are the arbiters of that respect, they also have the right to enforce the dress code with fines and/or jail time if they please.
So when picking out what to wear to court, ask yourself this... How do I want to portray myself? Then, dress the part.
Typically, in a criminal case, the rule of thumb is to look as young and innocent as possible.
There’s no question that people respond emotionally before they respond intellectually. That's just human nature. So use clothing as a tool to create the response that you want.
It is preferable for ladies to wear a dress or suit or a skirt (preferably no more than two inches above the knee) and a blouse, sweater, or casual dress shirt. Colors are important! Wear neutral, pastel colors.
DO:
- Wear little makeup (the trick is to make it look like you're not wearing any make up at all).
- Remove all visible piercings. This specifically includes tongue piercings and nose rings.
- Cover all visible tattoos.
- Wear closed toe shoes
- Wear glasses if you normally wear them.
- Wear your hair pulled back in a bun or clip.
- Dress like a professional.
- Dress conservatively and, when appropriate, wear good quality clothing.
- Remember that the “good guys” never wear black.
- Avoid putting anything on your hair that makes it shine or appear greasy.
- Avoid wearing tinted or dark colored glasses in the courtroom (People will not believe you if they cannot see your eyes).
- Wear only functional jewelry (e.g., wedding ring and wrist watch).
- Avoid wearing items that may identify a personal association or belief. Political buttons, club pins, college rings, religious jewelry may trigger some prejudices against you in the mind of a judge or juror.
- Wear plain patterns.
- If you wear a dress or skirt, wear sheer, nylon pantyhose.
Remember that even a small flaw in your appearance will be noticed by the judge and/or jury and it may hurt your credibility.
Here is some examples of what to wear in court:
(Casey Anthony and Lorena Bobbitt, both acquitted)
For some women, the baby-doll look was more effective. When Lorena Bobbitt went to trial she appeared in delicate, high-necked blouses, she was soft-spoken and wide-eyed, and looked far younger than her 23 years. Her appearance made it all but impossible to ignore the allegations of her husband's abuse: Bobbitt seemed less like a battered wife than a vulnerable child who had been victimized by a domineering man. Ultimately, the sensational nature of the crime was matched only by the shock of the verdict: Lorena Bobbitt was acquitted of all charges.
DO NOT WEAR:
- shorts
- mini-dress
- hat
- halter or tube top
- excessive makeup or false eyelashes
- excessive perfume
- sandals or open-toe shoes
- see-through or low-cut clothes
- clashing colors
- noisy bangles
- large bracelets and earrings, facial piercings, or more than one ring
- red clothing
- all black clothing
- ill-fitting clothing
- clothing that exposes your midriff or underwear
- clothing with an emblem or wording that promotes illegal or inappropriate activity
- any clothing that shows any part of your breast
- extremely expensive outfits
- sunglasses
- flashy jewelry, i.e. “bling”
- jeans
- wrinkled clothing
- cut-offs
- tank tops
- yoga pants
- loud patterns
Here are examples of what NOT to wear.
Some legal consultants argued that Fisher's lawyers hurt their case by outfitting her in adult-looking suits. It wasn't enough to dress in conservative, dark colors, as Amy had: she had to look not just like an innocent woman, but like a child.
Words and objects in red get peoples attention immediately
This could be why Linda Drane Burdick chose to wear that bright red suit for her opening statement when she was the prosecutor in the Casey Anthony trial. Most likely trying to subconsciously sell to the jury her strengths on the evidence. Soft pastels or blue for instance would show she is not about being strong. Red shows she is serious and a fighter. Red has a way of grabbing your attention. She wanted her opening statement to make a lasting impression in the minds of the jurors.
Although it's really not fair. If this were a perfect world, the only thing anyone would be paying attention to during a trial would be the evidence. It doesn't matter whether on the side of the defense or the prosecution, women can't avoid having their appearances scrutinized in the courtroom for as long as they are scrutinized elsewhere.
Twenty years after the O.J. Simpson trial, prosecutor Marcia Clark still has to justify not the jury's acquittal, but her perm. "It was wash-and-wear hair!" she said in a recent interview. "It was easy. I had two boys in diapers and I didn't want to be bothered." But for women at the center of media spectacles, no decision—particularly those they make about their appearances—can ever be quite so simple.
FIND OUT:
- What colors are best for you.
- What clothing styles look good on you.
- What makeup is best for you.
- How to make the most of your physical appearance.
- If you have any questions about your attire, you should consult with your lawyer BEFORE you step in the courtroom!
Related links:
- A Defendant’s Guide to Courtroom Etiquette
- “Will Work for Weed” T-Shirts, Zoot Suits, and Other Things You Shouldn’t Wear to Court”
- Opening Statements: What to Wear to Court
- What Not to Wear…TO COURT!
- Courtroom Attire: Ensuring Witness Attire Makes the Right Statement
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