We’ve already covered lawyer attire on the blog. In fact, that post is one of the most popular we’ve ever had. A recent story has brought juror attire to the fore. According to the Wall Street Journal Law Blog, a federal court in Florida sent two prospective jurors home for violating the court’s dress code. The defendants in the case were convicted of mortgage fraud. They now claim that the exclusion of the jurors violated the defendants’ right to a jury drawn from a fair cross section of the community. They argue that some individuals may not be able to afford to comply with the dress code, while others may choose to dress outside the code according to the “accepted fashion norms of a racial minority.” The dress code in question states that “[p]roper attire includes coat and tie for men and similarly appropriate attire for women. No jeans, polo shirts or sneakers.” I did a few minutes of research, and didn’t find another court with such a strict dress code. My impression is that seeing a juror in a coat and tie is like spotting a black bear: not totally unheard of, but definitely not an everyday occurrence. Here in North Carolina, the Administrative Office of the Courts provides some general guidance for jurors: “You should dress comfortably, but not too casually. Dress for court as if you were going to work or to church. Many judges do not allow anyone to come to court wearing halter or tank tops, [...]
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