Clothes Make the Man... But What About the Case?
The Legal Blog Watch recently posted a story about a judge who admonished an attorney for his client’s appearance in court. Surprisingly, this happens more often than one may think.
In fact, a fellow attorney blogged about a motion recently filed in Florida, alleging that a trial lawyer is wearing beat up shoes to gain sympathy with juries: “Upon reasonable belief, Plaintiff believes that [name] wears these shoes as a ruse to impress the jury and make them believe that [he] is humble and simple without sophistication."
Admittedly, human nature often wins the battle with common sense, and subliminal perceptions may play a role in deliberations. As we know, attire can support or interfere with the message one is trying to get across to a judge or jury. At a minimum, as a distraction (flashy drawing away attention); at worst contradicting (nervous adjustment contradicts attempts to appear truthful). So, following are some additional common sense dressing tips we’ve found helpful for court appearances:
Choose: comfortable clothing (adjusting your clothing may make you appear nervous and suspicious), conservative suits in modest colors.
Avoid: trendy clothing, expensive, excessive or flashy jewelry (especially if one is looking for a financial settlement), loud colors , revealing outfits, inappropriate shoes. Do not wear a lot of perfume or cologne.
In general, dress as nicely as you can on your budget, and most importantly, make sure your client leaves home anything that can be perceived as a potential threat (chains, Swiss army knives, etc).
At one time we would have said the issue is respect for the law and the institution of the courts. These days, that is not a compelling argument. However - a big however – interference with a successful outcome is always a compelling argument.
