Attorneys & Court

When preparing for court, keep the following items in mind:

Know which court you need to be in and on what date and time

Dress Conservatively

For Women

• No old or tattered clothing
• Wear nothing too tight or revealing (no tank tops, halter tops, miniskirts, or shorts)
• Sandals (flip flops) and tennis shoes are not appropriate foot wear
• Practice good hygiene (bathe, comb hair, brush your teeth )
• Dress in neat and clean clothes (no t-shirts)
• Do not overdress

For Men

• Shave. If you have a full beard, mustache or goatee, trim it.
• No old or tattered clothing
• Wear shoes or boots in good condition (no sandals or flip flops)
• Practice good hygiene (bathe, comb your hair, brush your teeth)
• Dress in neat and clean clothes (no t-shirts)
• Do not overdress

Transportation

• Know exactly how you plan to get to court
• Have a back-up plan if the first choice fails (e.g.: car breaks down)
• If traveling by bus, know which bus route you need to take and what time to be at your stop in order to be in court on time.

Be On Time

• Leave your home early allow for delays. Arrive early if possible and give yourself time to prepare.
• Remember you will have to pass through a metal detector. Do not carry unnecessary or illegal items to court or you may be taken into custody.
• Turn off cell phones or any electronic devices you bring.
• Do not bring food or drinks into the courtroom.
• Be prepared to spend the entire morning in court. Your case may not be the first to be called.

Special Accommodations

• Notify the court in advance if you need accommodations for
  • A disability that may affect your ability to testify or participate in the court proceedings.
  • Other special circumstances, such as an interpreter.
• Do not bring children to court. Make arrangements for their care.
• If the children are required to be there make sure they wait with an adult (preferably a family member outside the courtroom).

Contact Your Attorney immediately upon arriving

Documents

• Contact the court in advance if you are unsure about what you may need to bring.
• Read and prepare any documents you may be required to produce in court.

Courtroom Behavior

• Always address the judge as “Your Honor” or “Judge.”
• Never interrupt the judge. The judge will instruct you as to when to speak.
• Speak only to the judge, your attorney, or the District Attorney and only when instructed to do so.
• Do not chew gum.
• Always be polite and courteous.

Do not talk about the case to anyone outside the courtroom