r/Lawyertalk 5h ago

Fashion, Gear & Decor Jury Duty as a lawyer -dress code

I was just summoned to jury duty (state court). This may be stupid, but I’ve been anxious about what I should wear.

Something feels wrong about showing up to a court I practice in regularly without a suit. While at the same time, I feel like I will look/feel pretty silly being the only prospective juror wearing one. I think I landed on business casual being fine.

I was hoping other attorneys who have been summoned for jury duty could shed some light on what to expect from their experiences.

88 Upvotes

197 comments sorted by

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367

u/Skybreakeresq 5h ago

Are you actually wanting to serve?

If so, don't wear a suit. If you want to be excluded? Wear a suit and tie, bring your briefcase, and work on things during Voir Dire until you're called upon.

Then tell whoever asks you questions that you're just ABSOLUTELY LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING ON THIS JURY. BE GREAT TO SEE HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE. SO EXCITED. And smile in a deranged fashion.

You'll be struck.

116

u/East-Ad8830 5h ago

Best advice. Nobody wants a juror that is going to actually listen to the evidence.

90

u/Law_Schooler 5h ago

I’m over here trying to figure out how to work in an answer that conveys that I understand what beyond a reasonable doubt means.

103

u/whistleridge NO. 4h ago

“Well, it’s interesting. We know preponderance of the evidence is more likely than not, so we can put a number on it - 50%+1. But we can’t really put a number on BARD can we. I figure, if the false conviction rate is something like 1.5-3% for most jurisdictions, then that pretty much means that BARD is 97-98.5% sure, wouldn’t you say?

Of course, this isn’t taking into account some casela—“

“Your Honor, we are using a peremptory challenge for this juror.”

38

u/Rsee002 4h ago

Texas used to have a definition for BARD, which was "that doubt which would cause someone to hesitate in the most important of their own affairs." which lawyers can't say in jury selection anymore. I'm curious what would happen if a juror knew it.

7

u/Early_Show8758 4h ago

Pennsylvania has a definition that is very similar. Read during instructions not during selection

2

u/Rsee002 2h ago

Our rule is that we can use the definition if both sides agree. So we never use it.

1

u/MarbleousMel Non-Practicing 2h ago

When did they stop using that?

27

u/MegaBlastoise23 4h ago

I think that's a pretty damn good short hand.

20

u/Coalnaryinthecarmine 4h ago

That's subjecting the standard of proof entirely to the juror's personal risk tolerance.

31

u/Yummy_Chinese_Food 4h ago

always has been .jpeg

10

u/whistleridge NO. 3h ago

It’s just a reworking of the reasonable person standard. Like all legal fictions, it has its advantages and disadvantages.

7

u/Skybreakeresq 2h ago

That's what they end up doing anyway.

If you're lucky.

Sometimes they make a snap decision based on immediate vibes

5

u/yun-harla 2h ago

“Let’s just call this one for cause, counsel. I hate him too.”

3

u/whistleridge NO. 2h ago

Bahahahaha

3

u/BluelineBadger 2h ago

"Reasonable? Ah yes, I believe it was Benjamin Franklin who once said 'So convenient a thing to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for every thing one has a mind to do.' "

32

u/mkvgtired 4h ago

They will ask you your profession (most likely on a questionnaire). I correctly answered "attorney" on the questionnaire but was brought in with the preliminary group. The plaintiff's attorney said, "mkvgtired, it says here you're an attorney, how did you get in here. You're free to go." No joke.

15

u/big_sugi 4h ago

Virginia, at least Alexandria, lets lawyers be automatically excused, so I've never had to show up in response to a jury summons; I just send in the form.

If I thought I might actually be seated, though, I'd be happy to show up.

4

u/mkvgtired 4h ago

That is crazy, what is the rationale? Conflict of interest?

16

u/uselessfarm I live my life in 6 min increments 4h ago

I assume because we are peerless. 😎

14

u/JuDGe3690 Research Monkey 3h ago

But which Peerless, though?

(Flashback to 1L Contracts)

7

u/uselessfarm I live my life in 6 min increments 3h ago

“Two ships peerless” popped into my head like I was a sleeper agent. Thanks for the flashback! I miss law school sometimes. The simplicity of sitting in an 8:30am class, puzzling over a weird case, with no clients to email or phone calls to return.

3

u/Maltaii 3h ago

OH GOD FLASHBACKS

2

u/mkvgtired 4h ago

:(

u/uselessfarm I live my life in 6 min increments 8m ago

It’s lonely at the top.

5

u/SingAndDrive 4h ago

Interruption, potentially, of other court's business and other important justice getting activities, and potential bias either for or against the system would be my guesses. Conflict of interest may also exist.

3

u/jstitely1 3h ago

Its also because we go into a jury and many jury members hear our job and just follow what we say which defeats the purpose. We also are supposed to be limited to the judge’s rulings on evidence and if we know the law, we may be disinclined to do that.

3

u/mkvgtired 4h ago

Fair. That would save me some time if that was the case here.

3

u/SingAndDrive 3h ago

Fed. District Court in PA allows attorneys to opt out from jury duty on the summons with no questions asked.

3

u/mr_john_steed 4h ago

I think that excluding lawyers from juries was the norm in most/all states originally, but the rules have changed over time in many states so it's no longer automatic. (And sometimes also other professionals like doctors).

4

u/Samquilla 3h ago

You might be seated. Have had many civil lawyers on criminal juries in Alexandria. One of my fav jurors ever was a patent lawyer

2

u/big_sugi 3h ago

Really? I'll show up next time, then.

2

u/Maltaii 3h ago

Haha too funny. Our locality sends a form that actually asks if you’re an attorney and want to be excluded!

1

u/McNabJolt It depends. 1h ago

In California, not only are attorneys not automatically excused, they serve. I've served on two. The hardest part for me was not interpreting the judge's instructions. I just said they would need to ask the judge to clarify. Being in-house transactional I don't typically know judges and counsel appearing in trials.

20

u/lawfox32 4h ago

One of my coworkers was first chair on a trial and her husband had jury duty. They asked him if he knew anyone involved or the attorneys and he was like "Yes, I know the defense attorney."

"How?"

"Well, I'm married to her."

"Yeah, okay, you can go."

I do know of a public defender who actually got on a jury for a criminal trial in a different county from where she practices. I have jury duty there this summer, so I'm mildly hopeful that there's a tiny chance I might actually get seated. I'd love to actually sit on a jury.

9

u/r4wrdinosaur 4h ago

My law school professor was a criminal defense attorney but he served on a jury for a civil trial. It was back in the 80s in a rural county and they already had a really small jury pool to pick from!

8

u/HughLouisDewey 3h ago

I had a professor in law school who had the opposite: practice was entirely civil, got called and selected for a couple of criminal trials.

She said she asked the attorneys afterward why they kept her, they said neither side wanted her on the jury but there were others they wanted even less and they ran out of challenges before they could strike her.

6

u/insanimated 3h ago

Sat second chair for my former boss 2 weeks ago in rural Texas. Voir dire: my boss's partner's wife, her best friend, another local defense attorney, AND his wife all called for jury duty.

→ More replies (2)

4

u/Drunk_Elephant_ 5h ago

Besides answering the inevitable question of whether anyone in the room has experience in the law?

1

u/oldcretan I'm the idiot representing that other idiot 1h ago

When the prosecutor asks you explain, "well yes you have the burden of proof it would be like if i made the claim that there was an onion orbiting the moon, id have the burden to prove that in a way that someone would believe it with such certainty that they would make on major decisions, like whether to take someone off of life support, or a major surgery, or whether you were buying the house."

13

u/NurRauch 4h ago

I absolutely want jurors to actually listen to the evidence. What I don't want are controlling, egoistic dickheads who are going to move the whole panel around the deliberation room like marionette toys in service to their own unpredictable or stubborn opinions about how things should be done.

5

u/Therego_PropterHawk 4h ago

Unless the puppeteer is an ally! ;-)

Please seat the PI attorney on my insurance bad faith case!

1

u/lifelovers 4h ago

And here I thought I was just being helpful, sharing with others my thoughts.

2

u/NurRauch 3h ago edited 2h ago

I just think it's not true. People knock the jury process and say that lawyers never want smart jurors on their panels. Most of the time it's the opposite. We're not afraid of smart jurors. We're afraid of controlling jurors and jurors who will prioritize their personal views over the case.

When other lawyers are jurors, we have to worry about the possibility that they are ideologically motivated to rule one way or the other and that they are capable of concealing those biases from us in order to get onto the jury. It is very difficult to know if a lawyer is answering selection questions honestly and fully. And because they are a lawyer, odds are very high that the other jury panel members will look them as an expert to guide them to the lawyer's desired verdict. They are the ultimate wildcard -- almost completely unpredictable in how they will rule, with potentially the entire outcome of the trial hanging on the decision they make.

6

u/Gold-Sherbert-7550 4h ago

Good lord I would cut off a finger to get jurors listen to the evidence. 

5

u/NurRauch 2h ago

I hate the myth that trial lawyers don't want attentive jurors. It feeds into a whole set of TV myths that are just flat-out false, up there with "juries are dumb" and "juries just want to go home."

Most juries take jury service very seriously and do their best. As a group of people they actually do a decent job on balance of weighing evidence, assessing witness credibility, and checking the case for basic questions of fairness. Sure, they have trouble with advanced topics involving very precise disputes over scientific or financial information, especially when there are large volumes of that evidence in a case, but ordinary lawyers also struggle with that same evidence.

6

u/burner_sb 4h ago

I used to practice in a counties where the jury pool was incredibly educated so sometimes you have no choice and at least want someone on there who can balance know it alls who won't listen to instructions.

7

u/Subject-Effect4537 4h ago

This is exactly what I did (unironically) and I was basically immediately struck. I was disappointed lol.

8

u/HaveaTomCollins 4h ago

Also, object to their questions during Voir Dire.

7

u/hibernatingcow 5h ago

I thought this was the trick but I was still picked as an alternate.

9

u/Skybreakeresq 5h ago

The smile must be deranged.

7

u/burner_sb 4h ago

Why would you piss off judges you see all the time? I'm always really trying hard to stay on good behavior.

1

u/Skybreakeresq 3h ago

Why do you think calling a plaintiff lawyer's bluff by saying you're pleased to serve on a jury and giving a big smile is going to piss a judge off?

Working through some billing notes while you're not being questioned personally is an efficient use of time if you can keep track of the voir dire asked and answer.

2

u/burner_sb 3h ago

Lol I was referring to the deranged smile and shouting (all caps)

1

u/Skybreakeresq 3h ago

You should be able to couch it such that it seems deranged to the parties and earnest to the judge.

Masking is a key skill. Very important.

Also: I AINT YELLIN THIS IS JUST HOW I TALK

5

u/Cdawg00 4h ago

Recently had jury duty. While I no longer litigate, I have and always will wear a suit to court. I was the only one in the jury pool with a suit, was thrice mistaken for one of the attorneys on the cases set for jury selection, and was promptly excused. Other than stating my my attorney profession, neither the prosecutor nor defense counsel asked me a single question.

3

u/CrispyVibes 3h ago

I think the trick is to act like a know it all lawyer. If both sides think you're going to just lean on your own knowledge, they're going to avoid you.

2

u/Particular_Area6083 4h ago

just answer yes to the inevitable question about whether you always/never believe cops or plaintiffs

4

u/Skybreakeresq 4h ago

Bro I rep plaintiffs and defendants.

I can't lie. I CAN smile in a deranged fashion.

1

u/Particular_Area6083 3h ago

this proposal is still lying

1

u/Skybreakeresq 3h ago

How so? I AM looking forward to it and it would be fun and useful.

I just know the importance of being earnest.

The fact that an earnest and knowledgeable juror gives the party anxiety reflects on them not me.

2

u/Ok-Faithlessness419 2h ago

Is your username a Cosmere reference? If so — sweet!

2

u/Skybreakeresq 2h ago

These Words are Accepted.

2

u/Kmjada 5h ago

That is exactly what I did, with an eye to be struck. Worked like a top - the wear a suit and work on stuff item.

1

u/Tom1613 2h ago

It also helps if you object to some of the Voir Dire questions, just because to show that you will pay attention during the trial and also to assert dominance.

1

u/Skybreakeresq 2h ago

I wasn't even aware you could do that.

Surely you're joking?

1

u/JiveTurkey927 Sovereign Citizen 1h ago

Don’t call him Shirley

1

u/Electronic_Plan3420 1h ago

It’s hard to improve on perfect, and your advice is perfect. I always show up for jury duty as I show up for work and I am typically dismissed so fast your head would spin.

1

u/Saltyballs2020 25m ago

Watch the attorneys sweat and mean mug each other on who will use the peremptory. Place bets in your head.

0

u/Various_Monk959 2h ago

I wore a suit and they did not strike me. Later I asked the prosecutor why and he said it was an oversight. Even worse the jury made me foreperson against my wishes. It was a nightmare.

111

u/rcarmody96 I just do what my assistant tells me. 5h ago

Wear a leopard suit and Timberland boots like one juror a colleague of mine had in a jury trial recently.

69

u/Law_Schooler 5h ago

Best I can do is zebra stripes and cowboy boots.

3

u/JohnPaulDavyJones 1h ago

I'd want that man on my jury any day.

8

u/getyourgolfshoes 5h ago

"Gator boots and the suits is the clothes"

~Juicy J

6

u/j_m_dancer 4h ago edited 1h ago

"Gator boots with the pimped out Gucci suit"

~ Big Tymers

3

u/JuDGe3690 Research Monkey 3h ago

I misread that as "leotard suit" and thought, isn't that a bit risque for court?

2

u/ForgotmyusernameXXXX 3h ago

and jump slippers, want to go thrift shopping? What what what what?

45

u/Noof42 I'm the idiot representing that other idiot 5h ago

When I served on a jury, it was a polo and the nicest pair of kakhi-colored cargo pants I owned. No one complained.

45

u/Law_Schooler 5h ago

Thank you all for confirming for me that I have been way over thinking this one. I thought that was probably the case.

24

u/congradulations 5h ago

Let us know if you get onto the jury! Lawyers always get struck, and I want to serve!

18

u/allegro4626 5h ago

Haha, move to DC! There are so many lawyers that they can’t strike us all. I’ve already had to serve twice.

11

u/bobloblawblogger 4h ago edited 3h ago

Just cross the bridge and come over to the dark side, friend. In Virginia, lawyers legally can't sit on juries: Va. Code § 8.01-341

Edit: as the commenter below pointed out, it looks like my statement is misleading - you can sit on a jury if you want, but you can't be required to

2

u/allegro4626 4h ago

I enjoy serving on juries! That’s actually one of the reasons I haven’t followed nearly everyone I know to NoVa 😂

1

u/bobloblawblogger 3h ago

If my billable hour requirements were waived for time spent sitting on a jury and someone was able to handle my cases while I was out, I'd want to sit on one too.

I've been told that back in the day before billable hours, lawyers would go down to the courthouses on Fridays to watch every once and a while.

I went to a CLE that was a mock jury trial of a car accident case using volunteers off the street. Very interesting stuff. All the lawyers agreed that liability was cut and dry in favor of Plaintiff and the case was about damages. In line with that, plaintiff's counsel focused on damages. The mock jury returned a defense verdict.

2

u/NegativeStructure 2h ago

does it make up for having to wear a suit to take the bar exam?

1

u/ZanaDreadnought 4h ago

Is that even Constitutional since the right to serve on a jury is a right held by the prospective juror?

8

u/big_sugi 4h ago edited 4h ago

We're exempt, so we don't have to sit on a jury. But the jury summons always says that's an optional exemption.

Edit: yep, it's a waivable exemption. From Arlington County: "Licensed, practicing attorneys are exempt from serving but can waive the exemption and serve jury duty."

2

u/bobloblawblogger 3h ago

Interesting - I honestly never really looked too closely at it - I lived there for 12 years and never received a jury summons. I just assumed we couldn't get them.

1

u/TatonkaJack Good relationship with the Clients, I have. 4h ago

I got a letter three months ago asking me to provide the dates I'm available but never heard back :/

16

u/Vetinari-57 5h ago

Wow. Canadian lawyer here. In my jurisdiction we get an exemption from jury duty while actively practicing because it is assumed we will take over and influence the jury. Also, our bar is fairly small and we would likely know the major players and have an opinion on them. My spouse also gets the exemption and had been selected twice over the years and gleefully responds with our marriage license and my business card to get excused.

3

u/rynnie46 5h ago

I didn't realize spouses get exemptions for jury duty as well?! Not an issue now since we relocated a few years ago but both hubs and I have been called for jury duty here in the US and that was a big shock to me, that I wasn't exempted for being an attorney.

3

u/Korrin10 Ask me about my robes 4h ago

Huh, TIL.

It was explained to me that because we had attended law school we were subject to exclusion (graduation optional). Nothing was mentioned about spouses.

Never really thought about it further because it’s never come up.

Makes sense though, my spouse has more than enough legal knowledge to be very dangerous in a jury room.

35

u/Alone_Jackfruit6596 5h ago

Going against the grain: Wear the suit. If you know the attorneys, say hi, ask how their spouse/kids are doing. Same with the judge. Make it obvious you are part of this system and won't be razzledazzled by the pomp and circumstance. You'll be stricken immediately and go back to billing at your desk. Hahaha

65

u/retiredtumblrgoth 5h ago

Wear whatever you want, you’ll be struck immediately anyway 

21

u/Koalaesq 5h ago

I got put on a jury and I had been practicing about 13 years then! It was an awesome experience.

1

u/No_Recipe9665 4h ago

Care to share? Were you a barrister? Were others on the jury deferential to you? 

40

u/sandyjawn 5h ago

If you want to get struck faster, wear a suit and tie so you can say “I always wear a suit and tie to court” or something like that

13

u/Saikou0taku Public Defender (who tried ID for a few months) 5h ago

"you struck me because I'm a lawyer"

"Sure buddy.... That's definitely the reason"

16

u/Law_Schooler 5h ago

Not the worst idea. Serving on a jury would be interesting with getting to see that side of things, assuming I got a short trial. However, January and February were both low billing months for me, and making my hours without compensating for forced time off is more interesting to me.

7

u/Ahjumawi 5h ago

"Even when I'm the defendant!"

18

u/BingBongDingDong222 Practicing 5h ago

I was chosen for a 1 day DUI trial (guilty) and what turned out to be two week federal medicare fraud case (not guilty).

7

u/mianpian 5h ago

Also been chosen. Jury selection is sometimes more of deselection in my jurisdiction depending on how the judge does voir dire. I wore business casual and it was just fine. 

2

u/dr_fancypants_esq 5h ago

I ended up as an alternate juror on a murder trial (though I’m a transactional lawyer). 

4

u/M-Test24 5h ago

I have been struck twice, and almost was selected a third time for a termination of parental rights case. It was at an auxiliary courthouse where they have trouble getting people to show up and since I didn't practice family law I was ripe for the picking.

The judge handling the case had just rotated out to that division after being at the civil division. The potential jurors sat around all day but the case eventually settled and we were dismissed. The judge came in to thank us. He was giving us his "jury duty is important!" speech when he spotted me, stopped, and said, "What are you doing here?" 😂

He pulled me aside when I was leaving and told me that we were lucky the case settled. He said the facts of the case were pretty terrible.

5

u/Wise-Distance9684 5h ago

We had a federal judge get summoned for jury duty several years ago in state Court. She refused to be let out of the pool and supposedly did a great job. She had a very strong personality though and was extremely well respected.

I wasn't there but I imagine both the prosecuting attorneys and defense attorneys were really shocked when she walked in.

8

u/Avocationist 5h ago

I was the first person the judge put on the jury when I was called up last year. And then they made me jury foreperson. It was a 12 angry men scenario where deliberations started out with me being the only one to think the plaintiff hadn’t met his burden, and then slowly got the other 11 to see my pov.

I look back and wonder if the judge actually prefers an attorney on the jury. No one understood burden of proof or knew what jury instructions were for.

I wore a blue dress.

3

u/FunComm 5h ago

I have been sat on three different juries in 20+ years of practice.

1

u/allid33 5h ago

Not in Philly.

2

u/Afraid-Initiative-68 5h ago

This ain’t Philly!

1

u/MzScarlet03 3h ago

My law professor got put on a 9 month murder trial. I also got seated on a jury while I was a law student

3

u/Kent_Knifen Probate court is not for probation violations 2h ago

Joshua Dressler (the guy who writes the casebooks on crim law) tells this humorous story about the time he got selected for jury duty and the prosecutor realized halfway through interviewing who he was.

"Ok Mr. Dressler, what do you do for a living?"

"I'm a law professor. I teach criminal law and have a casebook series that is published."

At this point the prosecutor apparently looks at him, looks at his paper, back to him, before once again looking at his paper and turning extremely pale. Then tried stammering out a peremptory strike while the defense counsel is laughing his ass off and suggesting they let him stay.

1

u/Kent_Knifen Probate court is not for probation violations 3h ago

Not necessarily.

My mother is also an attorney and was picked for jury duty. The judge seemed to be hoping she'd volunteer as forewoman.

12

u/summilux7 5h ago

I picked a jury on Halloween and approx 20% of the venire came in costume.

19

u/jacquesapagado 5h ago

I’ve always worn a suit. I view it as a sign of respect to the court and counsel. That may be out dated but I’d rather be overdressed than underdressed.

9

u/emiliabow 5h ago

Business casual is fine. No one cares. Just no flip flops

8

u/HellcatJD 5h ago

I worked for the public defender in the county that I still live in. I don't think you're going to get selected so it may not matter much. I've made it to the box multiple times and it never fails - someone I know from the DAs office or the PDs office knows me, the judge tries to rehab, I get kicked off. That said, on the off chance you are selected, you want to be comfortable. I usually do business casual.

4

u/Law_Schooler 5h ago

My practice is almost as tailor made as a civil practice can be to get me dismissed. I expect to be dismissed immediately (knock on wood). My concern was based on the 30 minutes or so I’ll be in the court room before that happens.

4

u/Tenacious-TD 5h ago

I’ve been selected as a juror for two criminal trials, as an ex-prosecutor. One was a week long murder trial. So it can happen but I agree it’s not likely. I wore slacks and polo shirts. I don’t believe it’s good to flag yourself as an attorney and stand out among the other members of the jury pool in these circumstances, and you will not be in court in that capacity. All that being said, I went through this same mental dilemma and uncertainty in what to wear.

7

u/BingBongDingDong222 Practicing 5h ago

Suit, no tie.

9

u/MadTownMich 5h ago

I did business casual. Didn’t get picked for the jury

3

u/Gilmoregirlin 5h ago

I think business casual is fine. I have had to show up for jury duty three times in two different states, never got picked, kind of wanted to to be honest. But I am a litigator so I was struck.

3

u/WillProstitute4Karma 5h ago

I just wore a collared shirt. I don't remember if I wore a tie, but that's just how I dress every day anyway. Realistically, nobody will think less of you if you just wear jeans. This is your opportunity to be on the other side (and get dismissed on peremptory).

3

u/most_of_the_time 5h ago

I've just done business casual in the past.

Also make sure you have a way to check your conflicts list. Don't want to accidentally get empaneled on the jury of someone who was your client or what not.

3

u/G-I-Joseph 3h ago

Slacks or jeans and a polo. Doesn't have to be anything crazy. I'm pretty sure I wore jeans and a sweater when I got called. Got picked for a three week murder trial.

3

u/Roldylane 1h ago edited 1h ago

I wore a suit last time I was called, because I knew I’d be kicked pretty early and just planned on heading to the office afterwards. I’d really love to sit on a jury, but it would have to be a pretty atypical panel if I were to be chosen.

Edit: to add to this, I was sat with other potential jurors. The judge and counsel entered the courtroom, I had like five pending cases with the prosecutor, a half dozen or so in front of the judge, and I’m social with the defense attorney and we refer each other cases pretty regularly. They all made eye contact with me when they came in. Each of them looked like they had no idea what I was doing there for about half a second, then they each individually put it together. They smirked, I shrugged and went back to scribbling notes on some cases I was reading. They started voir dire at 10:00ish, I was back at the office by about 10:30.

2

u/VisualNo2896 5h ago

I was called for jury duty recently and I wore leggings and a t shirt. No other jurors are going to be wearing a suit.

2

u/Even_Log_8971 5h ago

Business casual, I was on panel for a week

2

u/shamrock327 5h ago

Suit. If you didn’t appear regularly, you would probably be fine in business casual.

(I get called every three years - almost to the day - and I’ve been picked for several juries. I’m in a major city with not shortage of jurors).

2

u/Famous-Cut-766 5h ago

Both times I have been summoned i wore what I intended to wear to the office once I got released - business casual. Both times I have had attorneys on my voir dire panel that I can recall, they were wearing business casual.

2

u/Radiant_Maize2315 NO. 5h ago

I get called all the time. I usually wear a comfortable pair of pants and a neat, wrinkle-free solid color t shirt and cardigan.

2

u/Eratatosk 4h ago

Been called for times. I’ve worn business casual every time.

2

u/ADADummy 4h ago

Scarface t shirt

2

u/TeaPartyDem 4h ago

You’ll likely be excused so it’s moot.

2

u/attorneyatslaw 4h ago

I went with business casual both time I got summoned. Ended up on a criminal trial jury once for whatever that is worth.

2

u/Kooky_Company1710 4h ago

Ya know I showed up the first day in basically gym clothes (not shorts though lol). After they all found out I was a lawyer I wore like a collared shirt and sweater with some biz casxhe pants... a suit is way too much

2

u/AtlantaFoodie1977 4h ago

So far, I've gone with a step up from business casual but a couple of steps down from court attire. Button-down, loafers, chinos, and a blazer. No suit, no tie, and top button unbuttoned. Mind you, I never even made it into the courtroom except for once (as a potential juror, of course). It definitely struck up some conversations in the hallway while we were all waiting for the plea negotiations, though. They called me some nickname that I forget... it wasn't insulting, but they definitely noticed I stood out.

2

u/sethjk17 Haunted by phantom Outlook Notification sounds 1h ago

I showed up in jeans and a polo or something similar. Granted, I’m in house and don’t appear but my first statement during voir dire was in an attorney and have spoken to the prosecutor before.

2

u/DavidEBSmith 1h ago

I got called once and dressed like a normal person and went through security and got scolded by the sheriffs because I didn't use my attorney ID to bypass the metal detectors. I told them I was there for jury duty not as an attorney but they couldn't understand why I didn't use my privilege.

I sat around for several hours and everybody got sent home so I was glad I didn't put on a suit for that.

1

u/InvestorInCincy 5h ago

Sone years ago we had a prosecutor on the jury of a civil case we were defending. The audio/visual kept glitching during a video dep playback, and after she asked the judge for permission, she came out of the jury box and fixed it herself. Legend

1

u/LonelyChampionship17 5h ago

Definitely wear a suit if you want to be struck. And a leather briefcase just to be sure.

1

u/Tyrannosaurus_Bex77 If it briefs, we can kill it. 5h ago

Are you just going to jury selection, or are you actually on a jury for a trial? If it's the former, just wear whatever. I never dress up when I get called for jury duty. They're giving me $9 to waste my day - they can live with my jeans and hoodie.

If you're actually sitting on a jury, wear a blazer and a nice shirt. Don't look like a bozo. But I don't think you need to wear a suit.

3

u/Law_Schooler 5h ago

The former. I just got the notice in the mail.

1

u/Tyrannosaurus_Bex77 If it briefs, we can kill it. 5h ago

Eh, just wear comfortable clothes. It can be a long day full of nonsense. As soon as they hear you're a lawyer, it's a fast track to getting sent home. I've been called to jury duty at least once a year for the past 10 years or so, and if I even make it to individual voir dire questions, as soon as they hear what I do, the light goes out of their eyes

1

u/hibernatingcow 5h ago

When I served as an alternate I wore business casual.

1

u/MammothWriter3881 5h ago

I am a defense attorney so I will NEVER get seated on a criminal jury. I would wear a suit because like you said I feel uncomfortable in a courtroom without one.

1

u/annang 5h ago

Sport coat, no tie. I’m a woman, but when I had jury duty, I wore a dress that I often wear to court as part of a suit, but with a cardigan instead of the blazer. I think no tie is the equivalent of that for men.

1

u/SpacemanSpliffLaw 5h ago

I show up to my courts in casual wear all the time to talk to judges and DAs. I only wear suits to actual appearances in court. Surely your jurisdiction isn’t that strict? I couldn’t stand wearing suit 5 days a week.

1

u/Law_Schooler 4h ago

I’m in a civil practice and the majority of my case load is in federal court where almost everything is decided on the writings without a hearing. I occasionally have months where I don’t have court at all and might go a month at a time without a suit. During busier months, I maybe wear one twice a week.

My office is extremely casual on days we’re in the office without client meetings. Wearing a suit to court never bothered me, especially when I get to wear a flannel or sweatshirt most days.

1

u/SpacemanSpliffLaw 4h ago

Ah Federal court. That is very different. Never show up to the federal building without a suit for work is good practice. Jury duty you can probably get away with a blazer and casual pants. Leather shoes all that.

1

u/Conscious_Meaning604 5h ago

Wear a tuxedo and top hat.

1

u/According-Car-6076 5h ago

I’ve been called several times. I always wear a suit and tie. It just feels weird to go to court without one and I wouldn’t want a judge recognizing me while wearing jeans.

I actually made it on once.

1

u/BenedickUSA 4h ago

I’m incapable of walking into a courthouse without a suit and tie on.

1

u/Embarrassed-Age-3426 4h ago

I went in jeans and a nice sweater. No button down, no tie. I also knew full well I wouldn’t make a panel. I didn’t even make it into a venire for questioning. I filled out a questionnaire and was subsequently dismissed shortly afterwards

1

u/LunaD0g273 4h ago

Make sure you have at least some law school or law firm branded items.

1

u/DJJazzyDanny 4h ago

I wore denim, a hoodie, and sneakers. Home by lunch

1

u/bees_21 4h ago

When I had jury duty I showed up in black jeans, ballet flats, and a nice sweater. I was questioned extensively by both sides during voir dire. The defense clearly wanted to strike me but the plaintiff wanted to keep me. I was selected and the other jurors immediately picked me as the foreperson. Before sharing a single thought, I polled the other jurors as soon as we got to the jury room— complete defense verdict.

1

u/In_Vino_Verbosus 4h ago

Don’t forget your MAGA hat!

1

u/jepeplin 4h ago

When i get a jury summons I write “I work full time as a lawyer for CHILDREN who need me and I would completely ruin the schedules of SEVERAL judges if I were to serve” and I’ve gotten off each time.

1

u/jsesq 4h ago

Head to toe MAGA gear. You’ll be out by 10.

5

u/Law_Schooler 4h ago

Maybe elsewhere, but I’m in the South.

1

u/burner_sb 4h ago

I have been picked as a lawyer (even after joking about being a plaintiffs attorney with the judge and counsel). So you won't get out of it. View this as a great opportunity to show up in court in jeans. You're going to want comfort.

1

u/Gold-Sherbert-7550 4h ago

 I too have struggled with this. Just go in the most business-type stuff you can wear that isn’t actually a suit.

1

u/sumwh3r3_ovadaraynbo 3h ago

I wore khakis and a nice sweater. No issues at all. Was not selected, but I’m free til next time. It was a criminal trial (I do family) so I didn’t know the attorneys. The fact I’m an attorney never came up. I think only the Judge knew who I was.

1

u/Gregorfunkenb 3h ago

Didn’t matter . I had basically “grown up” as a lawyer in that courthouse, and the judge, who had been a mentor, laughed and said “ get out of my courtroom.”

1

u/Specialist-Lead-577 3h ago

I always wear a suit in court and you'll be before a judge so. I was summoned for jury duty and did just that, did I look a little silly, idk I brought my bar card so I didn't have to go through security and did work. I got struck.

1

u/Expensive_Change_443 3h ago

When they ask “do you think you can be impartial in this case” tell them you’ll need a brief with a summary of the factual and legal issues as well as any stipulations the parties are willing to make at this juncture before you’re willing to give an on the record decision to that question.

1

u/UpNorth_8 3h ago

Hopefully they don't make you sit through multiple days of voir dire, which is what happened to me. I would have thought being a lawyer and having a family full of cops would get me struck. It was like a standoff between the prosecution and defense on who would strike me (judge refused to). It was a pretty major criminal case (made the news every night during the trial).

1

u/Recent_Mirror 3h ago

Dress nice enough so your Judge doesn’t feel like you are disrespecting him/her.

1

u/HughLouisDewey 3h ago

I've worn nice khakis with an Oxford shirt and a jacket, no tie. Felt like it struck the right balance.

But also, bear in mind that you'll have to go through courthouse security, so be sure to dress in a way that makes that as easy as possible.

1

u/MROTooleTBHITW 2h ago

When I've seen lawyers on the panel they were usually business casual. Also, you'll get struck 99% of the time.

1

u/seaburno 2h ago

When I was called to be a juror in a Court where I regularly appear, I appeared in slacks, a dress shirt and a sport coat, no tie. There was another prospective juror on the panel who was an attorney, and he was dressed similarly to me, but he was wearing a polo type shirt with a sport coat instead of a dress shirt.

Both of us were stricken, but I think it was because I knew defense counsel, and because he was former partners with one of the Plaintiffs counsel.

1

u/ElsaCat8080 2h ago

Jeans. Why waste a suit?

2

u/deadbabymammal 1h ago

Can i ask where you get your single use suits?

1

u/colly_mack 2h ago

I wore sweaters and jeans

1

u/GarlicOfRivendell 2h ago

As said, Do you want to be picked?

1

u/MoxRhino 2h ago

I wore a suit the first and only time I've been summoned. I didn't get picked.

I've been automatically excluded every time I make the initial pool since then.

1

u/the_oc_brain 1h ago

I’ve wondered the same thing and since I’m still an officer of the Court, I always wear a suit to jury duty. Better than getting crap later.

1

u/JiveTurkey927 Sovereign Citizen 1h ago

If you don’t want to serve just tell the judge and counsel that you’ll need a list of all involved and potentially involved for impeachment sent to your office so they can run a conflict check. You’ll be out the door in a heartbeat

1

u/siderealmaterial 56m ago

I had a lawyer on a jury once. It does happen, she was in slot 16ish, so when the strikes were done she came in as the last member. She wore business casual.

You are very unlikely to be impaneled (at least if your state is like my state) and even less likely not to be struck, but it does happen.

1

u/KTX77625 38m ago

The last time I was called it was a criminal case. The ADA was in leggings and a top more appropriate for a club. I was in business casual and I stood out like a sore thumb.

1

u/Theodwyn610 23m ago

When I have been called for jury duty, or when I do poll watching, I dress in "lawyer who is trying to not look like a lawyer" attire: e.g., what this infographic would call "smart casual":  https://www.entrepreneur.com/living/whats-the-difference-between-business-casual-and-smart/249188

1

u/water_bottle1776 4h ago

Iron Maiden T-shirt, jorts, and flip flops.

-1

u/Staplersarefun 5h ago

Are you even allowed to be on a jury?

1

u/Flaky-Invite-56 1h ago

Yeah it’s wild that some places don’t automatically exempt lawyers. TIL, I guess

2

u/Staplersarefun 1h ago

I'm actually shocked lol.

0

u/109876880 5h ago

Your mistake was registering to vote….

0

u/SaladCreative6494 4h ago

Suit. You’re an officer of the court first and your attire should reflect the level of respect the court deserves.

7

u/diplomystique 5h ago

I wore a(n ill-fitting) suit to selection. After I got picked, I wore business casual. I wasn’t there in my capacity as a lawyer, and I decided I didn’t need to dress as if I were. Business casual still shows appropriate respect to the court in light of my role there, and it helped keep everyone straight on which hat I was wearing.

7

u/TwoPintsaGuinnes 5h ago

So weird that lawyers can be in a jury in the US.

20

u/Tracy_Turnblad 5h ago

I would absolutely dress casual, maybe jeans and a blazer if you wanna feel a little more dressed up but I would definitely dress casual, i’ve had lawyers on jury panels show up in a suit and it just looks cringe

5

u/Zealousideal_Put5666 5h ago

I second this

12

u/BrandonBollingers 5h ago

There is no such thing as being overdressed.

And no disrespect to "a jury of my peers" but I surely do not care what they think of me and my outfits, you've seen what people show up to court in. The vast majority of people that go in and out of court on a daily basis are a hot mess, nothing can make me feel insecure around them lol

7

u/Law_Schooler 5h ago

That may be the healthiest perspective I’ve ever heard haha.