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What to Wear to a Miami Court

What to Wear to a Miami Court

When you need to make an appearance in a Miami courtroom, you must prepare your attire appropriately. Many courtrooms have a dress code, and if you break that code, you could be held in contempt of court.

Courtroom dress code rules apply whether you are attending court in person or through your computer via Zoom call conferencing

Zoom court is currently used for many civil suits, such as those involving car accident cases. Despite being held online, the same dress codes apply. 

Whether you’re the victim or the party at fault, it’s important to wear appropriate clothing in front of the judge. In all cases, shorts, tank tops, and flip flops are prohibited.

Why Is There a Dress Code?

Whether the opinion is popular or not, appearances matter. People make automatic assumptions about the way others look. You wouldn’t want to hurt your case by giving a bad impression to those in charge of deciding your case.

But even more important than that is the respect that you show to the court by dressing in appropriate clothing for the setting.

The court wants you to show that you are completely serious about the circumstances. Wearing appropriate attire can help to communicate that you respect the judge, the attorneys, and the formal nature of legal proceedings.

Appropriate Men’s Wear for Court

Men are not required to wear a suit and tie to court. If you have one, however, it certainly doesn’t hurt to wear it. If you do not have a suit jacket, wear respectable slacks or khaki pants. Wear conservative clothing, similar to what you might wear to a church event or a business meeting.

Do not wear jeans unless you have no other option. Wear a button-down shirt with sleeves or a conservative polo shirt. Do not wear t-shirts, work out clothing, or sweatpants. 

Make sure your clothing is clean and tidy. Pay attention to personal hygiene, too.

Wear conservative, clean shoes with closed toes. It’s best to avoid sandals, slippers, or flip-flops. Wear a belt or suspenders with your pants to ensure they do not sag.

Appropriate Women’s Wear for Court

Women are also required to dress in a neat, clean, and conservative manner. Dresses are encouraged but not required. 

Mini skirts and nightclub-style dresses are not allowed, nor are sundresses or strapless dresses. Spaghetti straps are not allowed and all tops must have sleeves. 

Women can also choose to wear slacks, pantsuits, and business attire. 

Women are also not allowed to wear spiked heels or open-toed sandals. Makeup should also be conservative and natural-looking.

Wear Clothing that Fits Appropriately

It’s also strongly recommended that both men and women wear clothing that fits properly. Do not wear anything that is too small and tight, nor anything that is overly loose and baggy. 

Virtual Appearances

Even if you’ll only be joining in on a Zoom call, rather than attending in person, the same rules of dress apply. Additionally, you should make sure that your video has a neutral background and that you take the video call in a quiet room. 

Remove any distracting items or clutter from the background. All of the parties involved should be able to focus on the matter at hand without getting distracted by an abundance of personal items or extra people in the room during the call.

Because of the rise in COVID-19 cases, if you do come to a courthouse in Florida in person, you’ll be required to wear a mask, regardless of your vaccination status. 

By observing these basic rules, you’ll show that you honor the courtroom setting. 

Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Miami, FL

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Miami, FL and need legal help, contact our Miami personal injury lawyers at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.

Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers
20900 NE 30th Ave Suite 715
Aventura, FL 33180
(305) 937-0191