What to wear in court?

irishgirl19

Hi,I am in court soon giving evidence in an case where I was assaulted. I've never been in court before so I don't know if I should dress smart is blazer pencil skirt etc or casual. Any advice appreciated

JoannieG

Conservative and smart. No short skirts or plunging necklines.

smileyj1987

Dress like your going to a job interview .

Peregrinus

Dress respectably, but modestly.

I don't mean modesty as in sexual modesty, but social modesty. You don't want to be perceived as someone powerful, secure, well-off, with a sense of entitlement. You want to be perceived as "a decent class of a woman"; somebody who would treat others with respect, would think well of them, would do what she could to help anyone who needed any kind of help, and doesn't have notions about herself.

irishgirl19

Thanks guys. So I'm dressing I should dress business casual? As in maybe a blouse and black trousers and cardigan?
I was going to wear an outfit I had for a Job interview but I think it may come across too formal

coylemj

An interview outfit may come across as too formal - in the sense as Peregrinus has already said above, that you are trying to position/project yourself too much. Business casual should be fine.

JillyQ

Don't turn up into a court dressed casually. Dress conservatively and professional, skirt, blouse and blazer or a dress and blazer.

coylemj

JillyQ wrote: »

Don't turn up into a court dressed casually. Dress conservatively and professional, skirt, blouse and blazer or a dress and blazer.

She doesn't propose to dress casually, 'business casual' means neat dress that's a notch or two below what you'd wear for a formal meeting or interview. It does not include t-shirt or jeans. For men it usually means a jacket but no tie and for women it's as you described above.

Is it bad that this is the most constructive discussion we've had in here for a while?

JillyQ

coylemj wrote: »

She doesn't propose to dress casually, 'business casual' means neat dress that's a notch or two below what you'd wear for a formal meeting or interview. It does not include t-shirt or jeans. For men it usually means a jacket but no tie and for women it's as you described above.

She is talking about wearing a cardigan which is casual.

Pat Mustard

JillyQ wrote: »

She is talking about wearing a cardigan which is casual.

Be grand. Will be a step up from tracksuits, which are the attire of choice for many District Court regulars.:D

hullaballoo

Peregrinus nailed it tbf.

Just formal enough to acknowledge the gravity of being in court is all that's required. No need to go further than that.

Victor

Is gravitas required or is that kept for funerals and medical negligence cases?

nuac

Would go job interview style both genders.

Lady judges take particular notice of presentation.

If before a lady judge, go easy on the make-up, hairdo, and jewellery, especially if you are male

Guys should always wear a tie.

Good luck

234

nuac wrote: »

Lady judges

Really?

coylemj

nuac wrote: »

Lady judges take particular notice of presentation.

Most judges are more concerned that you speak clearly, confine your answers to the substance of the question and treat the proceedings with due deference. If you do that, what you wear doesn't really count for much.

Wearing an interview suit says that you think the judge and/or jury care more about what you look than what you're actually going to say.

If I was giving evidence in a case with a jury I most certainly would not dress up as if for an interview.

JillyQ

coylemj wrote: »

Most judges are more concerned that you speak clearly, confine your answers to the substance of the question and treat the proceedings with due deference. If you do that, what you wear doesn't really count for much.

Wearing an interview suit says that you think the judge and/or jury care more about what you look than what you're actually going to say.

If I was giving evidence in a case with a jury I most certainly would not dress up as if for an interview.

No it doesn't. What it shows is that you have respect for the formality of the court.

Boskowski

If called as a witness surely all you need to do is express some sort of respect for the occasion. If that's a sharpish suit so what? It's not like you need to portrait yourself in a certain way. Just appear credible and aware of the occasion.

coylemj

Boskowski wrote: »

It's not like you need to portrait yourself in a certain way.

Boskowski wrote: »

Just appear credible...

Those are totally conflicting statements.

coylemj

JillyQ wrote: »

No it doesn't. What it shows is that you have respect for the formality of the court.

It is possible to overdo it, that's my point. An interview suit can send out the wrong message, especially to a jury.

Look at me, this suit cost €750, how could you possibly not believe my evidence?

Boskowski

coylemj wrote: »

Those are totally conflicting statements.

You know what I mean. You needn't go to length and ooze through your appearance that your modest, respecting, god fearing whatnot. Just appear reasonable and aware of the occasion.

coylemj

I've been on a jury. When a witness is called, the person steps forward and into the witness box. The court officer administers the oath, then the counsel (prosecution or defence) who called the witness does a preliminary examination involving uncontested facts along the lines of ...

'now Mr. Murphy, on the night of Saturday October 21st 2013 were you in the premises of O'Sullivan's pub in so and so street?'

and there's usually a couple of more questions along the same lines before the witness gets to the meaty stuff.

By the time the witness is asked to state what actually happened i.e. get into the details, the jury have had a couple of minutes to study the individual and note their general demeanour. It's admittedly a personal opinion but what the person is wearing is a relatively small part of the overall impression that they make on the jury. In between a dinner jacket/ballgown and a tracksuit you don't really notice what they're wearing.

MarkAnthony

Is this an option?



Purely to lighten the mood OP.

irishgirl19

I'm torn now between blazer and cardigan
I might bring both just in case. Thanks to everyone who replied

nuac

coylemj wrote: »

It is possible to overdo it, that's my point. An interview suit can send out the wrong message, especially to a jury.

Look at me, this suit cost €750, how could you possibly not believe my evidence?

I have spent years attending courts. Never spent €750 on a suit.

I do believe male witnesses should wear collar and tie. Can usually supply same if needed from the tangled mess in the back seat and boot of my car