Trailrider #896 Posted October 27 Posted October 27 An alleged murderer, who could be sentenced to death if convicted, asks the judge if they can wear "street clothes" in the courtroom. As there is a lot of evidence that the defendant may be found guilty, my answer would be, "Whatever you want to be buried in!" Of course, a judge couldn't answer that way, as it would be prejudicial. 3 3 Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted October 27 Posted October 27 Last time, years ago, that I was in a court room everybody including the defence attorney were dressed like grubs! The attorney was even wearing worn out sneakers and his "suit" hadn't been cleaned or pressed in forever! The Prosecutor and Judge looked respectable! 1 Quote
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted October 27 Posted October 27 Last time I had jury duty - mebbe ten years ago? - the defense attorney had to borrow a sportcoat from someone; he'd left his suit jacket at home. Guy was a jerk, anyway. So when I saw the title of this thread I was surprised to find it wasn't Alpo! 1 4 Quote
Subdeacon Joe Posted October 27 Posted October 27 Last time I was in for jury duty I wore my Sunday white shirt and Sunday good black pants. I was sore tempted to wear my cassock, but that would have been overstepping it's use, even though it would have pretty much caused me to be dismissed by one of the attorneys. 1 4 Quote
El Chapo Posted October 27 Posted October 27 I've done over 100 jury trials and always tried to look presentable. This thread makes me wonder if I achieved that! I have worn the same blue suit for the first day of almost every jury trial I've ever done. 2 Quote
Dusty Driver Posted October 27 Posted October 27 11 minutes ago, El Chapo said: I've done over 100 jury trials and always tried to look presentable. 100 trials and never been convicted? Must have good lawyers. 🤣 2 11 Quote
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted October 27 Posted October 27 (edited) My wife's boss, a well known attorney and a wonderful gentleman, answered my question about getting out of jury duty: "Tom, you're probably already in possession of whatever I tell you that you need." The list: A very nice black cowboy hat. No fancy hat bands. Take it off in the courtroom and the waiting room. A pair of dark rimmed glasses without any tint (I wore very thick glasses in those days). A two or three-piece suit, preferably navy or dark gray and with very thin pin stripes if possible. A plain undecorated white dress shirt, with or without a button down collar. A dark red necktie with no decoration other than a red and /or blue diagonal narrow stripe. Find a Marine tie bar. A gold or silver pocket watch and chain, or a very elegant and unpretentious wrist watch with a genuine leather band. No alligator or other materials. . Wear your wedding band. Polish your black boots like you learned how in the Marines. Put a small Marine emblem and a very small Bronze Star pin in your left lapel. Buy and carry a fountain pen and a matching mechanical pencil in the left inside breast pocket of you coat. A small leather covered pocket note book, also in your breast pocket. Take a note or two, not too obviously. Carry two linen handkerchiefs. You may not need them, but....! Get a relatively short "business man's" haircut and an unpolished but buffed manicure. Carry any firearms magazine or National Geographic with your address label on it. He finished with "Go in with authority and confidence, but try not to be overly stiff, almost militarily professional. Talk to no one except the courtroom staff. Sit alone midway back if possible and to the judge's right. Sit calmly, scan the room slowly, and then start to read your magazine." I asked him why. He told me to ask the bailiff when I left to room. He will help you with all of you questions. If not, come back and I'll tell you. Ten or fifteen minutes after going into the waiting room, the bailiff told me I had been excused. I asked him why. He followed me into the hallway. The first answer to why I was being ecxused he said, "Sir, look at your self. You are the picture of 'Joe Conservative' and no defense attorney on this planet will let you sit in judgement of his run-of-the-mill defendant. You are the kind who is dangerous for several reasons, mostly because you won't show any mercy but will sort the facts and weigh them carefully. Secondly because people who look like you tend to sway a lot of jurors who think you are smarter than they are or, at least know the world better than they do. We call it the "leader image". They wouldn't admit it but we've seen it often enough to believe it. It might even be subconscious." I was 61 years old and had my own business. Mr. Jaffee was right: I had most of his list already. I was never even called for jury duty again. Edited November 2 by Forty Rod SASS 3935 6 2 Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted October 27 Posted October 27 1 hour ago, El Chapo said: I've done over 100 jury trials and always tried to look presentable. This thread makes me wonder if I achieved that! I have worn the same blue suit for the first day of almost every jury trial I've ever done. But I'm bettin you cleaned it! Quote
Texas Maverick Posted October 27 Posted October 27 2 hours ago, Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 said: Last time I had jury duty - mebbe ten years ago? - the defense attorney had to borrow a sportcoat from someone; he'd left his suit jacket at home. Guy was a jerk, anyway. So when I saw the title of this thread I was surprised to find it wasn't Alpo! Cuz Alpo already knew the answer to this question cuz he spends every other week in court for something. LOL TM 1 1 Quote
J-BAR #18287 Posted October 27 Posted October 27 30 years ago I had to appear in court for a car wreck in which I was at fault. The judge and I were the only ones in the very full courtroom that were wearing a tie. I still think that was one reason I only had to pay a small fine. 1 Quote
Yul Lose Posted October 27 Posted October 27 I was a juror on a DUI trial about this time last year and the young lady defendant was probably the courtrooms best dressed person. Her attorney wore blue jeans and old converse tennis shoes with a plaid sport coat, evidently he didn’t have a mirror in his house, he looked pretty ridiculous. One of the prosecution witnesses looked like they’d just got out of the gym with sweats and tennis shoes on. Quote
John Kloehr Posted October 27 Posted October 27 Had to go to court some years ago (estate stuff, and a strange BS claim against the estate). Not big city, but not quite the boonies either. In the pre-meeting with my lawyer, I wore what I thought would be good in court. Polished black shoes, black dress pants, Crisp gray shirt, one of my awesome (but tasteful) ties, fresh haircut, shaved with a fresh blade, Seiko wristwatch (kept it from before cell phones, really do not wear it, had to get a battery for it). A nice leather zipped notepad "thing." Asked my lawyer if I should change anything, he said "no, you are perfect, but I'm going to pick a better tie and wear my good suit to represent you." I normally wear jeans and a T-shirt. Quote
Rye Miles #13621 Posted October 27 Posted October 27 I did jury duty 10 years ago. I dressed casual. No suit and tie and no one else was dressed like that either. Everyone was casually dressed. Quote
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted October 27 Posted October 27 1 hour ago, Dusty Driver said: 100 trials and never been convicted? Must have good lawyers. 🤣 Didn’t say he was never convicted. 1 4 Quote
Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 Posted October 27 Posted October 27 Last time I was called for Jury duty, I never made it to the Courtroom. They passed out a survey for us to fill out. For the question on hobbies and Groups, I put that I was a member of the National Rifle Association, Gun Owners of America, Single Action Shooting Society, and a faithful follower of Rush Limbaugh. I haven't been back since. Now when I was in Court for various misadventures, I wore Black Jeans, Black Cowboy boots, dark button up long sleeve shirt, and carried my Cowboy hat. As a side note, I've seen several Judges toss people out of their Courtroom for dressing like slobs. 3 1 Quote
Alpo Posted October 27 Posted October 27 1 hour ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said: Didn’t say he was never convicted. If he had been convicted that many times he would have undoubtedly lost his gun rights, and then would not likely be on a gun forum. Quote
Subdeacon Joe Posted October 28 Posted October 28 If I were for some reason in court as a defendant, I'd wear a decent suit, tie, well polished shoes. I'd also get my hair, beard, and mustache professionally trimmed 1 Quote
watab kid Posted October 28 Posted October 28 i guess we will find out as the judge is supposed to rule on exactly that for charlie kirks alleged shooter - real life , not a TV show , we shall see Quote
Rye Miles #13621 Posted October 28 Posted October 28 29 minutes ago, watab kid said: i guess we will find out as the judge is supposed to rule on exactly that for charlie kirks alleged shooter - real life , not a TV show , we shall see The judge said the defendant can wear regular clothes but must still wear restraints. 3 Quote
watab kid Posted October 28 Posted October 28 2 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said: The judge said the defendant can wear regular clothes but must still wear restraints. i had not heard that , but good to know , Quote
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted October 28 Posted October 28 6 hours ago, Alpo said: If he had been convicted that many times he would have undoubtedly lost his gun rights, and then would not likely be on a gun forum. Misdemeanors like jaywalking? Quote
watab kid Posted October 28 Posted October 28 11 minutes ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said: Misdemeanors like jaywalking? anymore it seems everything gets r=treated as such - but i apologize for my broad brush , im going by what i see in the news , im not in the legal system - i do know a lot of LEOs tho and they tend to reinforce my thoughts Quote
Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 Posted October 28 Posted October 28 (edited) "Jaywalking" is legal in california, since Emperor Gavin signed the Freedom To Walk Act back in '22. But it's now illegal to park within 20 feet of any marked or unmarked crosswalk, thanks again to said Emperor. Makes it safer for the jaywalkers, don'tcha know. Edit: "The 'act' was passed to address concerns that the law was unfairly enforced and disproportionately affected people of color and low-income communities. The act aimed to reduce biased policing, promote pedestrian convenience, and encourage walking as a healthy and environmentally friendly activity." In other words... oh, never mind. Edited October 28 by Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967 1 Quote
Perro Del Diablo Posted October 28 Posted October 28 I went to jury duty in my biker gear hoping to get dismissed. NOT had to go 2 weeks for manslaughter case. 2 Quote
Texas Maverick Posted October 28 Posted October 28 12 hours ago, watab kid said: anymore it seems everything gets r=treated as such - but i apologize for my broad brush , im going by what i see in the news , im not in the legal system - i do know a lot of LEOs tho and they tend to reinforce my thoughts When I was a LEO I always wore my uniform. Dept required. TM 1 Quote
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted October 28 Posted October 28 On 10/27/2025 at 3:04 PM, Texas Maverick said: Cuz Alpo already knew the answer to this question cuz he spends every other week in court for something. LOL TM Felonious mopery with intent to gawk. 5 Quote
Texas Maverick Posted October 28 Posted October 28 8 minutes ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said: Felonious mopery with intent to gawk. I don't know, I think he would be locked up for that. LOL TM 1 Quote
Blackwater 53393 Posted October 28 Posted October 28 I haven’t been called to court for jury duty in years!! I think if I ever have to go again, I’ll wear my “KILL ‘EM ALL AND LET GOD SORT ‘EM OUT!” T-shirt. 🤣😍 2 Quote
watab kid Posted October 29 Posted October 29 8 hours ago, Texas Maverick said: When I was a LEO I always wore my uniform. Dept required. TM most all i know did too when on duty , but then we were here in the land of "rocks and cows" as gov walz called us , 1 Quote
Blackwater 53393 Posted October 29 Posted October 29 33 minutes ago, watab kid said: most all i know did too when on duty , but then we were here in the land of "rocks and cows" as gov walz called us , Quote
El Chapo Posted November 1 Posted November 1 On 10/27/2025 at 4:32 PM, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said: Didn’t say he was never convicted. didn't say I was ever on trial either Quote
watab kid Posted November 2 Posted November 2 On 10/27/2025 at 3:26 PM, El Chapo said: I've done over 100 jury trials and always tried to look presentable. This thread makes me wonder if I achieved that! I have worn the same blue suit for the first day of almost every jury trial I've ever done. ive been on jury duty a number of times and never ever yet served on a jury , a total waste of time and money - let the lawyers sette or not before you call the jury pool in , its not right to upset so many lives until needed 1 Quote
Joe LaFives #5481 Posted November 2 Posted November 2 On 10/27/2025 at 2:39 PM, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said: " a well known attorney and a wonderful gentleman...:" " Oxymoron? 1 Quote
Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062 Posted November 2 Posted November 2 2 hours ago, Joe LaFives #5481 said: Oxymoron? ....... no, .... an oxymoron is a idjut with a blowtorch ...... 2 Quote
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted November 2 Posted November 2 I would wear my suit to court. If I was on the jury, I'd see how the other jurors were dressed, and if I was the only one in a suit, I'd dress more casually for day 2+ Quote
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