Making A Good First Impression In Court
We all know that first impressions matter, and it’s the same when you present yourself in court. Judges do not know you. The only thing they know prior to seeing you is why you are in their courtroom on that certain day. When you’re in the courtroom, we want the judge to have a good first impression of you.
The McGee Law Firm serves New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender County, North Carolina. All three of these locations are beach-centric communities. It’s common to see people in flip flops, shorts, and different kinds of hats to keep the sun out of their eyes.
In a courtroom, you should never wear flip flops, shorts, or hats. Local judges have been known to send people home or to the store to put on or acquire pants before even hearing your case. Not a good first impression!
For men, a collared shirt and a pair of khakis should be suitable, but don’t underestimate a suit’s power in this type of situation.
For ladies, a good rule of thumb is to wear attire that you would wear to a professional interview for a job. Stay away from yoga pants and tight dresses.
While the above is just a broad overview, you should always use common sense when thinking about how you will appear in court.
Do not drink alcohol the night before or day of a court appearance. If you go before a judge and smell like alcohol, you can be placed in jail for contempt of court.
It’s best to avoid any clothing with any branding on it other than the brand marks of the shirt maker (Ralph Lauren, Nautica, Vineyard Vines, etc.) This is important because if you’re charged with an alcohol offense you don’t want to show up with a Budweiser shirt. If you’re accused of a drug offense, you don’t want to show up to court wearing a Grateful Dead Deadhead shirt or Snoop Dogg shirt.
If you dress appropriately, it goes a long way in making a good first impression in court.
When we have clients who have to go in front of a judge in a courtroom, we go over everything to make sure you’re ready to make a great first impression.