What to wear to court?

What should you wear to court? I used to say, wear something to court that you would wear to church with your grandmother. And I have to tell you, after saying that a couple of times, peoples’ grandmothers are a lot cooler than mine because people will show up to court wearing clothes that make me say…no.

I don’t know if it’s because of COVID, but we’ve all relaxed. I don’t know if it’s just because people don’t know what to wear to court. When I represent someone, I try to present the very best image of you. If you come to court in pajama pants and a t-shirt, it isn’t the best version of you.

People should look at coming to court as a more formal activity. Because if you’re sitting in a courtroom full of people in t-shirts and pajamas, and you are there in a nice shirt, clean pants, your hair done, piercings taken out, that matters to the judge. Because the judge will look at you and see someone showing respect for the court, and the other people are not.

Even if it’s a minor step up, it is a step up. And that’s the sort of thing that we look at in every aspect of the case. We want you to be above everybody else in that courtroom.

So what do I want? I don’t want you to spend $500 on a new suit. Absolutely not. I want you to be comfortable but presentable. How does that look? No holes in your jeans or your shirt. I want you to wear nice pants. If those are nice jeans, that’s okay. A clean, tucked-in shirt. When clients show up looking like that, we get good results.

Even if it’s just a little psychological warfare to put us a little ahead, that’s what we try to do. Sometimes we dress for the part we want. And if we want part of a good result, we dress that way. When you come to my office, wear what you want. I don’t care. But when we go to court, you’re going to see me in a nice suit, and I’m going to see you in a good-looking outfit.