What To Wear For Jury Duty: The Ultimate Guide
As if being summoned to jury duty isn’t stressful enough, once you’re assigned and you have your appearance date for the court proceedings, then you realize you have no idea what to wear!
Can you wear jeans to jury duty, or do you need to adhere to a certain dress code? We’ve got the jury duty attire scoop for you here.
The proper attire for court hearings is sometimes laid out in a dress code, depending on your state. Other times, it’s left up to the common sense of the people. It’s a good rule of thumb to follow the widely accepted casual business attire rule.
What To Wear For Jury Duty (As A Juror)
Jury Duty Dress Code in Your State
How to dress for jury duty will vary based on your location. In some court locations, there will be a detailed, written set of rules for prospective jurors that they will be made aware of before they are even officially selected.
Meaning your casual attire may not be acceptable when you go for the jury selection process any more than it will be when you show up on your jury service date.
To find your state, city, or county court dress code, if applicable, you can visit the courthouse website. Many states do not have a written dress code, but if you want to ensure that you don’t break any possible unspoken rules you can always take a look at another state’s dress code online.
On the other hand, some states or counties are much more laid back about juror dress codes or courtroom dress codes in general. It’s generally easy to find out what is acceptable in your local courthouse with a simple online search.
Just to be sure, you can always reach out to the court clerk or juror organizer and ask them directly.
What to wear to jury duty for women
You don’t have to sacrifice personal style and you can even use jury duty as an excuse to get all dressed up if it’s not something you get to do on a regular basis. Keep in mind, you’ll be sitting for hours at a time through the court proceedings and then again in jury deliberations, so comfort matters.
The suggestions below are based on our review of many different juror dress codes found on the websites of courthouses across the United States. Again, rules and requirements vary, but we decided to go with suggestions for business casual attire.
This was the most common requirement we found among all for the court systems we reviewed.
Tops
A nice blouse or dressy shirt with sleeves is acceptable. Even a plain fitted t-shirt will work if it is not too tight or revealing.
Avoid thick, chunky sweaters during the winter that cannot be removed because you could get too hot and not have any options for cooling down.
Some courts have rules against tank tops or any sleeveless tops. If you wear one, be sure to wear a jacket or sweater over it.
Here are some tops that would work well for jury duty:
Vivilli Women’s Short Sleeve Tops and Blouses
The neutral colors available in this style are all perfect for being stylish while you fulfill your civic duty. You could even pick a few different colors and wear them all throughout the duration of the trial you are serving on.
This style is comfortable and stylish, while also modest enough for the court room. It also comes in a variety of colors.
Available in lots of different colors, this style can be worn on its own or with a light jacket.
We are loving this one in black, but any of the color options would work for the jury room.
This blouse is perfect to be layered with a jacket or collared shirt, which will also help you adjust your layers depending on the temperature of the courtroom.
Bottoms
Khakis or dress slacks are the best options for bottoms during jury duty. However, it is possible that you could get away with very dark jeans if they are not too casual and can be dressed up and disguised well.
This would not be suggested if your court has a written dress code that explicitly says that no denim is allowed.
Here are some pants that would fit into the appropriate attire for jury duty:
Lee Women’s Flex Motion Regular Fit Trouser Pant
These are a great option because they will match many tops, and depending upon the length of your jury duty, could be worn with different tops.
LIUMILAC Women Casual Cropped Pants
These cropped pants are stylish, come in many different colors and prints, and have a stretchy material that would be perfect for comfort.
SweatyRocks Women’s Elegant High Waist Solid Long Pants
There are so many color options for these high-waist pants. These can be worn on any day of service and then re-used for daily wear after jury duty too!
Dokotoo Womens Drawstring Elastic Waist Cotton Jogger Pants
These jogger pants can be dressed up or down, and they have pockets which we love.
NIMIN Wide Leg Pants High Waisted Business Casual Pants
These business casual pants will help make a super stylish outfit for jury duty and anywhere else you want to wear them afterward.
Dresses and Skirts
Both dresses and skirts are acceptable at the appropriate length. That length would be no shorter than just slightly above the knee.
The longer the better in this situation, to err on the side of caution. A wrap dress, shift dress, or other business casual dress would be a good choice.
Here are some dress options that are great for jury duty:
Zattcas Women Long Sleeve Ribbed Midi Dress
This print skirt with a black top is stylish, comfortable, and perfect for jury duty.
PRETTYGARDEN Short Sleeve Crewneck Dress
You can get this crewneck dress in stripes or solid color, and dress it up or down. Perfect for an entire day of jury duty and for use outside of the courtroom.
Miusol Women’s Retro 1950s Style Half Collar Ruffle Cocktail Pencil Dress
If you want a super sleek and professional look, this cocktail pencil dress is amazing in black.
Shoes
Keep comfort in mind when you’re deciding on shoes to go with your outfit. You won’t be standing for most of the day, but you can still end up pretty uncomfortable in high heels.
Low heels, boots or flats may be a better option and may be more appropriate for an active juror.
Here are some shoes that fit the appropriate dress for jury duty:
These loafers are dressy enough, and comfortable enough, for the courtroom. They come in a variety of colors, but neutral is always a great option to match several outfits.
Ankle boots can be dressed up or more casual, and they’re perfect for comfort and style.
LifeStride Women’s Parigi Pump
You can’t go wrong with a simple black pump!
Other clothing and accessory considerations
While there are typically no rules against things like patterns and colors, it may be better to avoid busy or “loud” patterns and bright colors. As a juror, it’s not necessarily a good thing to stand out from the crowd.
Wearing more neutral clothing so you don’t call attention to yourself in court is suggested, but definitely not a rule that I’ve seen or heard.
Another thing to consider is your use of accessories. Wearing a lot of jewelry, for instance, may be distracting for others in the courtroom.
The appearance may not be an issue, but the noise that a lot of jewelry makes when you move around will be a distraction. It can also be an issue going through security to get into the courthouse.
When you enter the courthouse, you’ll have to go through a metal detector. This step will already be a hindrance if you’re running late, you don’t want to do anything to create more hurdles to getting into court on time. Something like that could easily make you late for court.
FAQ
Can I wear a hat to jury duty?
Hats are not permitted in the courtroom in any circumstances. Written or unwritten, this rule is enforced in most courthouses. You may be able to wear a hat into the building, but you will be asked to remove it if you try to wear it in the courtroom.
Can I wear sandals or sneakers to jury duty?
Open-toe shoes are not permitted based on the dress codes I’ve seen for jurors. Closed-toe shoes are suggested, even in cases where your courthouse does not have a dress code for jurors.
Sneakers are also not allowed as a general rule in courtrooms, but as a juror, you should especially avoid sneakers totally.
Can I wear intentionally torn clothing?
Intentionally torn clothing is notoriously frowned upon in court. Even if it’s not in a written rule for jurors, I would definitely not include it in my juror outfit lineup in any way.
What if you don’t own appropriate clothing for jury duty?
Check with the court clerk or the juror organizer for specific requirements in your state or county. They may be more relaxed than others.
If they aren’t and you still do not have the appropriate clothing, ask your juror organizer about any exceptions or possible assistance.
Can I wear jeggings for jury duty?
Many of the jury dress codes we reviewed stated that no leggings, jeggings, or even tight ankle pants are allowed.
How should I wear my hair for jury duty?
Your hair can be worn any way you want as long as it is clean and has a neat appearance. Again, however will be comfortable for you to wear it for long periods at a time.
A tight ponytail, for example, could end up being very uncomfortable after many hours of wear. If you want to wear it up, consider pulling it back loosely.
You shouldn’t wear your hair wet or messy in court, according to many of the juror dress codes we reviewed.
Can tattoos and piercings be visible?
This particular question will have a different answer for different locations for sure. Most courthouses leave this rule up to the presiding judge.
It’s a good idea to ask your juror organizer or court clerk about the rules for this according to the judge over the case you’ll be involved in. Or you can err on the side of caution on this one and cover your tattoos and remove any visible body jewelry.
Can I wear my work uniform to jury duty?
Some of you will have to take time off of work for jury duty. Others, those of you who work the night shift, may be required to work in the evenings after jury duty.
Most of the juror dress codes we reviewed stated that work uniforms are not allowed in court.
Whatever their reason for this, I would imagine it would be better for your safety if no one in the courtroom knows where you work.
Can I wear my military uniform?
Yes, we found that in all the dress code requirements we reviewed that it is acceptable to wear a military uniform for jury duty.
Keep in mind that we did not check every state or county courthouse requirement and there is a chance that there may be some that do not allow this. It’s a good idea to check with your courthouse to be sure.
More tips
Consider Temperature
Remember that you’ll be sitting in the juror box all day long with only a few breaks. Consider layering your outfit so you can adjust things for temperature throughout the day.
If you are going to wear a jacket or sweater that can be removed, do not wear a sleeveless shirt or tank top underneath. Depending on the time of year, you could also wear a decorative scarf to keep you cozy that you can easily remove if it gets too warm.
Plan ahead
You don’t want to put yourself in a situation where you’re scrambling at the last minute to find something to wear. You’ll have plenty of time between assignment to a jury and the first day of court proceedings to prepare your wardrobe.
Make good use of that time so you don’t have to be stressed and uncomfortable when it comes time to go to court.
Simplify
Don’t complicate your juror duty outfits for the sake of keeping the whole experience as low-stress as possible.
As well as reducing stress, an understated and conservative appearance not only shows respect to the court, it also commands respect in return.
What not to wear to jury duty:
- Any graphic t-shirts or shirts with printed words or brand logos
- Tank tops, sleeveless shirts, or spaghetti straps
- Low-cut or cropped shirts
- Short skirts or dresses shorter than just above your knees
- Tight-fit clothing or anything too sexy
- Shorts of any kind or any length
- Flip flops, slides, sandals, or open-toe shoes of any kind
- Cros
- Sneakers
- Ripped or torn clothing
- Leggings, jeggings, tight ankle pants
- Athletic clothing
- Clothing that is too small or too large
- Sundresses or strapless dresses or shirts
- Sunglasses (unless prescribed transition glasses)
Other Posts You Might Like:
