What to Wear to Jury Duty
Have you recently received “that letter” in the mail—the one summoning you to jury duty? I recently received one and wondered, “What do I wear?”
Before you start thinking you’ll dress inappropriately and hopefully get out of jury duty, you won’t. You’ll be sent home for the day and reassigned to another date.
In this article, we’ll discuss what to wear to jury duty and the most commonly asked questions about jury duty attire.
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Is there a dress code for jury duty?
I did some research and found a juror dress code for the Central District of California. Many courts do not have a dress code spelled out. However, there is a level of respect that should be adhered to while serving on a jury.
Very casual attire is NOT appropriate, including:
tank tops
midriff tops
cropped tops
halters
shorts
t-shirts with inappropriate graphics or wording
flip flops or pool shoes
tight clothes such as athletic wear and leggings
Even though there’s a dress code, you can still look pretty and conservative in an outfit you love. I’ve put together outfit ideas that are stylish, comfortable, and pulled together at the bottom of this article.
Jury Duty Attire Tips
Because you will be sitting for a long time, choose clothes that are stretchy or loose-fitting for all-day comfort.
It may be cold in the courtroom, so bring a sweater, jacket, or blazer.
You’ll need to go through a metal detector, so keep jewelry to a minimum.
If you wear makeup, opt for a light-daytime look.
Dress conservatively.
Should you dress up for jury duty?
It depends on the courthouse where you were summoned. In most cases, you don’t need to wear a suit or or be overdressed for jury duty.
Business casual wear is perfectly acceptable.
For women, wearing a dress, skirt, and blouse, or pants and shirt work perfectly.
Just to be safe, check with your courthouse.
Can I wear shorts to jury duty?
Shorts are not appropriate for jury duty. Opt for a skirt, dress, or pants so that you don’t run the risk of being sent home.
Are jeans ok for jury duty?
While jeans are acceptable for jury duty in most courtrooms, avoid jeans with rips and tears. Since you will be sitting for a long time, choose relaxed-fit jeans with a bit of stretch for all-day comfort. Nothing is worse than sitting in jeans that are too tight and digging into your stomach!
Just to be sure, check with your courthouse to confirm that jeans are okay to wear. You don’t want to run the risk of being sent home and then reassigned to another date over a pair of jeans.
What should I wear to federal court?
If you get chosen to serve jury duty in the highest court in our land, it helps to know this is the most conservative of all courts.
It’s a very formal room. The judges will be in robes, while the lawyers will be in formal business attire. You don’t need to wear a suit but dress respectfully in casual business attire.
Can I wear a hat to jury duty?
Hats are not permitted in the courtroom except for religious purposes.
Is it okay to wear sandals to court?
You may wonder if you can wear sandals to court. While they are not exactly flip-flops, sandals are considered too casual. Before you get upset, there are lots of stylish choices you can wear instead!
What shoes do you wear to court?
Closed toe shoes are recommended. As I mentioned above, flip flops and sandals are too casual.
Check out this list jury duty appropriate shoe styles that are comfortable and stylish. They are perfect for all-day wear. I’ve listed nine shoe styles along with an example of each with links to shop.
Casual Wear Sneakers - Fendi Rockoclick Knit Logo Slip-On Sneaker, $650
Loafers - Gucci Brixton Convertible Loafer, $730
Espadrilles - Prada Logo Espadrille, $590
Slides and Slingbacks - Topshop Abella Slingback Flat, $35
Ballet Flats - Taryn Rose Rosalie Water Resistant Rose Embossed Ballet Flat, $149.95
Pumps - Christian Louboutin Lady Gena Round Toe Pump, $675
Boots - Tory Burch Gigi Logo Heel Tall Boot, $598
Booties - Bos. & Co. Tack Block Heel Snakeskin Bootie, $209.95
Wedge Sneakers - Linea Paolo Kandis Wedge Sneakers, $129.95
What should a woman wear to court?
As a woman, you have LOTS of options to wear to jury duty. I’ve put together three outfit ideas that are relaxed-fit, conservative, business-casual clothes.
The goal is to look pulled together while still feeling comfortable.
Stye 1: Dress Outfit
A dress is a great choice for jury duty.
I selected a knit dress for comfort and added a denim jacket in case it gets cold in the courtroom.
Then I had some fun with the accessories including a floral print scarf, sparkly stud earrings, and kitten heels.
Start with basics:
Classic denim jacket, $110
Add Accessories:
Style 2: Blazer & Pants
Here’s a classic business casual look. I think it’s especially ideal for the transitional seasons, spring and fall.
Start with basics such as a turtleneck and button-down worn over chinos. Then add a blazer to pull the look together.
Note: this outfit could just as easily be worn with just the turtleneck or the button-down under the blazer, but I love the look wearing of both!
Gold and leather is a big trend this season so I’ve added a skinny belt, a classic crossbody bag, gold stud earrings, and a pair of leopard flats.
Start with basics:
Tissue weight turtleneck, $36.50
Layer with a blazer:
Add leather and gold accessories:
Style 3 : Jeans Outfit
“Can I wear jeans to jury duty” is question that is often asked on Google.
According to the courts in my area, jeans are acceptable.
However, I recommend checking with your assigned courthouse before proceeding. Some courts have stricter dress-codes than others.
This outfit starts with a white button-down paired with boyfriend jeans. Layer it with a cozy sweater like this navy and white polka dot.
Pull the look together with tiny hoop earrings, a pretty red bag, and patterned slingback flats.
Start with basics:
Bring on the polka dots:
Accessorize with color:
