If you’ve been scheduled for a court date, dress to impress. Your appearance can have a big impact on your case. At the law offices of Santa Ana criminal defense attorney Jim Tanizaki, we always advise our clients to be well dressed and groomed when they appear in court.
What you wear at a trial sends a message to the Court. Conservative, professional attire shows that you respect the court and take its proceedings seriously. It can give you added credibility if you are required to address the court during your trial.
Appropriate Court Dress for Men
We recommend that our clients dress for their court dates the same way they would dress for an important job interview. If you’re a male, you should try to wear a suit and tie, or at least dress business casual. This includes slacks, a white or solid color button-up shirt, a solid color tie, and dress shoes.
The last thing you want to do is arrive for your court date looking disheveled. Remember to shower, shave, brush your teeth, and put on deodorant prior to your court appearance. Your hair, as well as any facial hair, should be neatly groomed.
Here are some fashion don’ts when dressing for a court appearance:
- T-shirts or tank tops
- Shorts
- Sneakers, flip flops, or sandals
- Old jeans
- Sweat pants
- Hats (excluding religious headgear)
- Dark shades or sunglasses
- Leather jackets
- Flashy or excessive jewelry
Especially avoid wearing any item of clothing that features obscene language, or racist, sexist, vulgar, gang-related, and similarly offensive messages, graphics, or images.
Appropriate Court Dress for Women
What about the ladies? Like the men, you should dress conservatively. Consider wearing a business suit, sweater, a solid color blouse, a solid color knee-length or longer dress or skirt, and dress shoes. Arrive at the court with your hair neatly groomed.
Like the guys, there are fashion don’ts for women as well. You don’t want to show up in court dressed in:
- Too much make-up
- Low-cut blouses
- Overly tight-fitting or form-fitting clothes
- Short skirts
- Extravagant or excessive jewelry
- Excessively high heels
Avoid the Mistakes That Could Damage Your Case
If you’ve been arrested and charged with a felony or misdemeanor in Santa Ana or Orange County, you’ll want to do everything you can to get the Court on your side. Santa Ana criminal defense lawyer Jim Tanizaki can help. He’s here to ensure you avoid the mistakes that could damage your case. A former Orange County DA, Jim’s background and experience make give him unique insights into the strategies the Court will employ to gain a guilty verdict. This knowledge, along with his vast legal expertise, allows him to devise an effective defense strategy that often results in reduced charges, and even acquittal, for his clients.
Who you choose to represent you in a criminal case could be one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Contact the law offices of Santa Ana criminal defense lawyer Jim Tanizaki through our website, or call us at (714) 655-7633 to schedule a free confidential initial consultation to discuss your case.