USA today article on judges cracking down on inappropriate clothing.

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USA today article on judges cracking down on inappropriate clothing.

Queen Mum

Veteran

http://www.usatoday.com/news/n.....htm?csp=24

15 years ago

General

17 replies

Latest reply was from Maya

Melissa

Active Member

This is interesting, Kim. On the one hand, I also don't want to see micro minis in court, but on the other hand, "offensive" and "inappropriate" are such subjective judgments that it worries me.

15 years ago

FiestyWife

Active Member

I am glad to see dress-codes in certain areas of life. The article made reference to gang colors during trials and dressing like a clown which would be no go's for me. The line becomes a little slippery when it comes to things like jeans & flip flops. While they don't present the most appropriate image if you have to come to court there is nothing illegal about them.

15 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I think the casualification of America is rampant.
I went to opera two weeks ago fully expecting to see jeans and I did, several times. I also unfortunately saw track pants.

15 years ago

Katja

(website)

Active Member

Yup. Our local newspaper ran a story this morning about new teacher training, with loads of pictures - every one of the teachers (new or experienced, and all pictures were of women) was wearing something I wouldn't be caught dead in at work if it were Sunday at 2 am.

15 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

this was the most interesting quote...

"Dressing up, that's something that you're taught, and if you don't live or participate in any of the arenas where you need to dress up, you probably just don't think about it."

we dress based on prior experience/expected norm...if no one has expected you to dress for court/opera/parent-teacher conference or had any experience with these events, then you wouldn't.

anna, and here i bought an evening coat at nas for our opera series. i should just wear a sweat suit --hey, it's a suit!

15 years ago

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

It's crazy what people will wear. I think the article hit the nail on the head when they said that people just aren't being taught that certain occasions deserve certain attire.

I was surprised that I actually had to create a dress code for assistants at my business because "neat, clean and professional, though casual" was not sufficient. I would have thought someone in their 40's would know that cut-offs didn't fall into that category but evidently not. :-\

15 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

As I agree that we can't legislate dress at the legal level.. a judge certainly has jurisdiction over his courtroom. I love that some of these judges are saying "I"ve seen enough ratty t-shirts and flip flops.. thank you very much!"

15 years ago

Scarlet

Veteran

Strangely this article gives me the feeling that at least there is some order in the world. Obviously the line has to be carefully drawn though.

15 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Any institution can impose a dress code, providing rules are easy to access I do not see a problem.

15 years ago

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I like this. I think a big part of why I personally dress nice is out of respect for those who have to look at me. I was on a jury once and I chose to dress up (at the ripe old age of 18) out of respect for the judge and legal system as a whole.
I was flabbergasted that Lindsay Lohan showed up for her hearing with EFF YOU painted on her fingernails. Really?

15 years ago

biscuitsmom

Veteran

I think the overcasualization in this country is just ridiculous! Bad enough people wearing pajamas to the grocery store, but to court? They say they're not taught to dress in regular clothing? Didnt they have any schooling, or jobs in their lives? I know some wear pjs in college, but Ive never seen in it in K-12.....

15 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I understand completely: justice system is the most important institution in the country and people have to show their respect there. After all you need to call a judge "your honor", right?
The problem I would have with this if they turn people away from the hearing (with the following penalty) because of what they wear WITHOUT voicing the dress code in advance. E.g. they need to specify it on the order your receive which summons you to court - after all this is what you see on any invitation if dress code is important. I agree that extreme cases of pajamas, indecent slogans on the t-shirt, etc. should be obvious to anybody but jeans or length of the skirt is a different matter.
Our society is mostly casual (and often downright sloppy) and a lot of people don't even connect the way they dress with the respect to others - this is the real problem here!

15 years ago

Mellllls

Veteran

There are courts in this country that still require women to wear skirts and men to wear white shirts. So guidelines for others in court are not surprising.

I had a witness show up to court once in a kilt. to say it was distracting to all involved was an understatement.

I do think the person who was turned away for wearing black jeans may be going a bit far if he had no warning. For some people, they have never owned anything nicer than black jeans and access to the court system is a right.

15 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

we also have to remember that we are only reading the medias version of the story (as in the black jeans)

15 years ago

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

Biscuitsmom - I regularly see school children and teenagers waiting for the bus wearing PJs, and before summer started I was horrified to see them draping blankets over themselves instead of wearing jackets or sweaters.

My neighborhood is middle and lower middle class. No reason for them to be using blankets for outerwear.

15 years ago

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Random, wow....Ive never seen that around here. Where are the parents?My mom wouldve slapped me upside my head if I ever did that! I guess I shouldnt be that suprised, given that sooo many wear their pants way below their underwear....

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I'm normally very anti-establishment and down-with-the-man-ish...but I totally agree with this provided the rules are laid out before the scheduled court appearance. It's stupid that they even have to be, but this is unfortunately the culture we live in. Good to know there are some places in the world where dressing to show respect is still valued...even if it is a courtroom...

15 years ago

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