What to wear
What to Wear to Jury Duty
Court-adjacent, hours of sitting, a magnetometer, a chance you are chosen. Comfort that still looks like respect.
Updated 27 Aug 2026 · 6 min read · what to wear to jury duty
You might be in that box all week
Voir dire is folding chairs and fluorescent light. If you are seated on a jury, you will sit still in view of a judge, attorneys, and a defendant. Wear the most boring respectable kit you can stay in for eight hours: stretch in the waist, breathable cotton or merino, layers. A $60–$140 chino and an oxford beat a $90 suit you cannot sit in.
| Item | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Bottoms | Chinos, dress trousers, a midi, dark unripped jeans if the county is casual | Shorts, ripped jeans, gym pants |
| Top | Collared shirt, knit, blouse, optional jacket | Slogan tee, tank, club neckline |
| Shoes | Closed leather or a clean leather sneaker some counties allow | Flip-flops, slides, loud boots with steel |
| Metal | Small-buckle belt, wedding band | Chunk buckle, pocket knife, a pile of chains |
Magnetometers and county rules
Same detector line as anyone else entering court. Small buckle, empty pockets, no multi-tool. Some buildings ban phones; read the jury summons. A book in a simple bag. Hats off inside.
Temperature, boredom, and not looking like a party
Courtrooms run cold. A merino crew or a cardigan you can keep on in the box. Quiet colors so you are not the juror in coral the attorneys remember. You are not dressing to impress a date; you are dressing so nobody has a reason to discuss your clothes.
Questions, answered
- Can I wear jeans?
- Dark, clean, unripped jeans sometimes pass at jury check-in. Wear chinos if you have them. Once empaneled in a serious trial, trousers look like you understood the room.
- Do I need a tie?
- No. A collared shirt is enough. A tie is not wrong; it is just more than jury duty usually asks.
- What if I am coming from a night shift?
- Clean, dark, closed shoes. Do not arrive in scrubs unless the court has told you that is acceptable, which it usually has not.
