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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think people going to court should dress appropriately and that doesn't include sports wear

57 replies

PrincessScrumpy · 20/08/2011 19:27

Seeing the news footage of many of those involved in the riots leaving court left me baffled. I've never been to court, however, I would assume that a smart suit would be the most appropriate item to wear. Am I alone in thinking that turning up in tracksuit bottoms, a football shirt and trainers is not going to get the magistrate on side and looks like you don't care?

OP posts:
K999 · 20/08/2011 20:02

The majority of folk who find themselves appearing in a criminal court lead pretty chaotic lifestyles (drink, drugs etc). I doubt the clothes they wear matter to them.

SardineQueen · 20/08/2011 20:03

I expect it's a mixture catgirl.

Some have never been in trouble before and might well just be a bit green.

Now I am boggled that I didn't dress up and have any legal representation - I was just way out of my depth.

GetAwayFromHerYouBitch · 20/08/2011 20:04

I'm shocked at what people deem appropriate attire on the Jeremy Kyle show, let alone in court

catgirl1976 · 20/08/2011 20:11

Sure - there will be a mixture.

Some will just be a bit green / young

But the people I witnessed seemed to treat the Magistrates Court as somewhere you have to go - like the supermarket.

It was just the norm for them and I don't think they saw a need to dress up.

Pan · 20/08/2011 20:22

I agree.

After all the judge plunders the dressing up box with a wig and breeches. Why don't defendants turn up in a nice wig and tights?

motherinferior · 20/08/2011 20:27

I almost certainly wore a T-shirt with no bra, if that helps (it was summer and I was young...)

Pan · 20/08/2011 20:33

Male judges tend to wear bras outside of court. < nasty little generalisation, there!>

milliemae · 20/08/2011 20:48

Procrastinator, Mums can be helpful. Earlier this summer, one of my Yr 11's told me rather smugly that he would not be in for his Maths GCSE next day because "I'm answerin' me bail!"

Straight on the phone to his lovely Mum. "Don't worry yerself, chuck!" she said, "I'm down the Station this afternoon answerin' me own bail, so I'll have a word!"

Sure enough, her (rather sulky) DS turned up for his Maths GCSE next day. Results on Thursday...

ginmakesitallok · 20/08/2011 20:51

sorry but I Grined at "They MUST have suits though.. what would they wear to a wedding?" - reminded me of my work colleague who was Shock that some people don't have an emergency bottle of champagne in the fridge "just in case"!

ProcrastinatorGeneral · 20/08/2011 20:52

millie Your post has just put adverse strain on an already tortured bladder!Grin

ProcrastinatorGeneral · 20/08/2011 20:53

I've got emergency chocolate in the freezer, just in case. However as a mum and fat bird I am assured this is quite normalGrin

thefirstMrsDeVere · 20/08/2011 20:58

Why 'must' they have a suit though?

OH doesnt have a suit because the one he got married in wouldnt fit him anymore and he wouldnt buy a suit 'just in case'.

If he had to go to court I am sure he would go and buy one but he is in his 40s and not some twit of a 17 year old ( I can say this because my much beloved DS1 is a twit of a 17 year old).

I have tons and tons of clothes so would have something for every occassion. Most of the women I know round here dont go out in the evening and spend their days taking kids to school and doing housework or may have a cleaning job.

Why would they have a smart outfit sitting around in the wardrobe.

It would be like someone having a diving suit just on the off chance they might need it.

I like to make an effort wherever I go because I feel more confident if I feel well dressed. I think you are being dim if you dont look like you have tried when you are going to court or for an interview. Not everyone knows it makes a difference, no one has told them, its beyond their terms of reference.

ReindeerBollocks · 20/08/2011 21:08

magicfinger the law firm I used to work at provided suits for those who were standing trial at Crown Court, as it matters more there (public perception and all).

As awful as it sounds it matters less in the Magistrates (plus it's the only way now to tell a solicitor from the client Grin )

stleger · 20/08/2011 21:12

My ds is 19, has a jacket which he could wear if necessary. For weddings... he has been to two, and as my inlaws like to think they are very posh indeed, ds has had to hire 'black tie'.... He would be 'dressed up' in his opinion in a shirt and best jeans.

BCBG · 20/08/2011 21:13

K999 has it right....we get all sorts in front of us in court, and I can promise that what they wear makes NO difference to us: often DV defendants try the suit and tie to impress us, and some youths make an effort (or their mums do, if they are lucky enough to have ones that care) Grin and other youths don't, can't , have no spare clothes etc. It makes NO difference to our judgements at all. The only time a thought will cross my mind is when I have a young girl defendant caught for theft etc who has designer gear, smartphone etc.... then I am unlikely to accept that Mum has to pay her fines for her! Sometimes, but only rarely, the ushers will ask someone to cover up before coming into court if the amount of flesh on display is very distracting, but sometimes defendants which MH issues can't help that, either.

Rebelwithoutapplause · 20/08/2011 23:53

As a former Magistrate I can barely remember any of the defendants bothering to make an effort to appear before the bench - on the odd occasion that they did, it was always commented on during the deliberations and went some way to reducing the potential sentence. Having respect for the occasion reflects respect for the law and this plays a big part in how they are perceived.
As for the inability to afford one, the majority wore trainers that cost more than a Matalan suit

ZillionChocolate · 21/08/2011 00:31

CharlotteBronteSaurus think it depends on which Crown Court. Round my way, even jurors make little effort. You might get 1 or 2 dressed in a suit.

Not only do some defendants turn up in their best leisurewear, they sometimes like to enhance the look with sweary/offensive slogan t shirts.

mayblossombitch · 21/08/2011 00:36

It's not a money issue because you can get a suit in Asda/Matalan etc for £50 or less yet some of these youths wear £100 trainers.

snippywoo2 · 21/08/2011 01:04

Not read the post just the OP.

Its the Magistrates or the Judge's job to try the person in the dock for his/her 'crime', and not take in to account what he/she is wearing at the time he/she appears before him.

To do otherwise is discriminating against that person and if they do that they should not be in that position to start with.

The law stands alone.

michelleseashell · 21/08/2011 01:21

Yes totally agree. I went to the magistrates court a good few years ago now. I dressed up like I was going to a job interview and I looked terrified. I bumped into someone I knew on the way and they thought I was going to a funeral. I thought I was going to be sick the whole time I was in court. I was shaking and barely able to talk. Thankfully they believed my side of the story and I left having only to pay a very minimal token court fee.

I was absolutely stunned to see the next two people due in court on my way out; two extremely bored looking teenagers in dirty tracksuits lounging around on the bench waiting to be called in.

It still amazes me to that day that they couldn't rub enough brain cells together to work out that they should try to at least LOOK penitent.

snippywoo2 · 21/08/2011 01:36

michelleseashell so did you get off lightly because you looked like you were going to a funeral or because you were shaking and barely able to talk, did you hang around to see what happened to the teenagers in dirty tracksuits? Did they get treated differently to you because of what they were wearing? Are people saying if a paedophile wore a suit instead of a tracksuit he would get a lesser sentence cos he was dressed smart ?

Mermaidspam · 21/08/2011 01:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

iscream · 21/08/2011 01:52

Many do not have suits. In which case they would be well advised to wear business casual. Many do not have anyone to advise them I suppose?
I see girls on Judge Judy (sorry, not a lot of real life court experience to draw from) with their hair done like up to the nines with flashy clothing, even with sparkles on the clothing. Or sun dresses. I wondered if they dressed like that because it was their best clothes?

snippywoo2 · 21/08/2011 02:18

Mermaidspam imo he should have been taken to the cleaners jailed and his licence took off him, he could have killed someone. He reckons he got off that day cos he dressed up and had his family with him how terrible is that? That one man gets off with a crime because of the way he dresses and the family he has around him, yet another who commits the same crime but dresses differently and has no family gets a worse punishment. How can anyone justify that?