jury duty

[denimini]

My apologies for the first paragragh. It belongs to Faldaguy. I don't know how to do the quote thing here

Fixed.
To quote: click on the lttle square with quotation marks on the right of the post you are quoting. Then continue your text in the text box above or below the quote.

[Sinned]

If you are going to get rejected when turning up for selection because of what you wear ( which presumably would be just a fairly ordinary skirt i.e. nothing salacious or unacceptable ) then would you really want to be selected?

[Uncle Al]

The last 3 times I was called for Jury Duty, I wore pants.
I didn't want to rock the boat in anyway, shape or form.
I only served once, the other times I was let go with the
rest of the citizens.

Uncle Al

[Pdxfashionpioneer]

Two years ago I was summoned to jury duty; ultimately to serve on a jury hearing a case of child molestation. By that time I was wearing skirts and dresses everywhere, including work, so after a little internal turmoil, I decided to wear them for jury duty as well.

Before I was done, I wore a skirt or a dress every single day, was looked up to by my fellow jurors for my experience with jury duty and my other abilities.

I even became lasting friends with a fellow juror who is about my age and complimented the prosecutor -- a trim, good-looking woman who was always very nicely dressed -- on the suit she was wearing one day.

I didn't get any sense that anyone -- none of the attorneys, witnesses, defendant or fellow jurors -- had any problems with how I was dressed. Not even the deputies who were working the metal detectors at the door.

If you're comfortable and self-confident in the clothes you're wearing, you'll do just fine. I also feel that, especially in situations such as a court proceeding, it goes over better if you dress just a little nicer than the best-dressed of your fellow jurors.

[moonshadow]

If you're comfortable and self-confident in the clothes you're wearing, you'll do just fine. I also feel that, especially in situations such as a court proceeding, it goes over better if you dress just a little nicer than the best-dressed of your fellow jurors.

I agree with that, and it's kinda funny that I only have one nice "guys" outfit (a pair of dress pants and a button up shirt), I wear it on special occasions when I need to look traditional and nice, such as funerals, job related stuff (I wore it on my interview in 2018), etc...

Aside from that I actually have probably about six or seven skirted outfits that would be court acceptable (assuming I was a woman). Not everything I have is hippy boho...

As for whether I'd wear the skirts to jury duty, well... it's either that or I wear the same [mans] outfit every day until it's over!

[stephanie53]

An update is called for, because it's been awhile. I chickened out and wore my man clothes. I probably could have worn a skirt, but thought not this time. We'll see how I feel when I'm called again in 18 months.

[Gusto10]

Well, if Fred can pull that off in the deep south, then I think you'd be good in California or Europe.

In Europe (other than the UK)the judicial system works without jury,

[Kirbstone]

We inherited our legal system from the Brits, who were here for far too long. For the last 100 years serious cases are tried here by jury. I haven't been around for all of that time and I've successfully dodged Jury duty both in the UK and here so far.

Tom

[Sinned]

I was called once, was having trouble with my hearing, being on the cusp of needing aids but not yet having received them, and probably only heard about 50% of what was said. The trial was about something not overly serious but I can't remember what. After the trial and in the jury room we started going through what was said. I cut through the b*llsh*t by asking, "Do we all think that he's guilty?" "Yes." "But have the prosecution proved it?" "No." As I remember we discussed it for a while longer before trooping back to the court room. I was chosen by the others as foreman and I was panicking that if my reduced hearing would be discovered it might possibly mean a mistrial especially as the judge was softly spoken. Fortunately the judge asked the customary questions and I gave the "Not guilty" verdict, not having to elaborate at all and we were dismissed. As I'm virtually retired it's unlikely I will receive any more jury duty. This was all before my interest in skirts but if I was called up again I would go in a skirt in the hopes that I would be dismissed because of my attire.

[crfriend]

I cut through the b*llsh*t by asking, "Do we all think that he's guilty?" "Yes." "But have the prosecution proved it?" "No."

Sometimes it makes sense to cut right through the BS -- and if the prosecution hasn't proved the case, then the charged walks. That's the way the law works -- by design. Bravo.

I was called up again I would go in a skirt in the hopes that I would be dismissed because of my attire.

I got called most recently, perhaps sometime in 2016 or 2017, and seriously contemplated showing up in a skirt. Instead, I showed up in palazzo pants and met up with a guy I'd worked with for a decade at my prior place of employment. I got chucked off the jury in any event because of the debacle of 2015 and some parallels with the case under consideration. I was willing to try to be impartial, but the judge wisely opted to pitch me out "for cause" and that was that. I have no idea how the thing finally unfolded. I should ask him at some point, just out of curiosity.

Astonishingly, one of the questions that the judge asked me upon reading the record was, "How were you treated?". Being already sworn in, I told the truth: "Aside from a handful of individuals who deserve praise I was treated like a pile of low-grade dog-food." The judge actually apologised for the actions of The System to me. Not that it mattered terribly much as the damage had already been done years ago.

[JohnH]

With my long hair, chest mounds, and hips I could claim I was a trans-woman if someone caused me grief for wearing a dress or skirt to jury duty. I get out of jury duty as I am a caregiver to my disabled wife. I once went along with my wife (who was able bodied at the time) who was summoned for jury duty. I was standing close to a women's restroom while I was wearing ordinary men's clothes. Some lady asked me if I was waiting to use the women's restroom.

John

[Coder]

Old thread - but I got called for Jury Duty service and wondered if there had been discussion on this one before. The court has this language on their website:

"Please wear clothing that is conservative, clean and comfortable. Shorts, tank tops and bare midriffs are not appropriate."

Which seems to be pretty standard language. I LOL'd at "conservative" as this town is anything but conservative.

I'm leaning towards pants - times certainly have improved since 2021 - but I really don't need the added anxiety, don't need to be distracting in some way, and so on.

[crfriend]

Old thread - but I got called for Jury Duty service and wondered if there had been discussion on this one before. The court has this language on their website:

"Please wear clothing that is conservative, clean and comfortable. Shorts, tank tops and bare midriffs are not appropriate."

Which seems to be pretty standard language. I LOL'd at "conservative" as this town is anything but conservative.

Quite a few of us have been "selected" for that privilege, and the verbiage is pretty much boilerplate stating that you should attempt to look serious and dignified whilst in the courtroom. In other words, "Don't look cheap, tawdry, or be distracting in what you look like." In other words, "look and behave like an adult." You are not there to be the centre of attention.

I'm leaning towards pants - times certainly have improved since 2021 - but I really don't need the added anxiety, don't need to be distracting in some way, and so on.

Well, I wouldn't say that times have gotten better -- all I've seen is entirely retrograde, but with luck we may be able to escape that going forward.

So, I'd opt for trousers, although the last time I got picked I wound up wearing a pair of my palazzos and attracted nary a word of admonishment; in fact I looked better and more solemn than most at the courthouse.

[mr seamstress]

Old thread - but I got called for Jury Duty service and wondered if there had been discussion on this one before. The court has this language on their website:

"Please wear clothing that is conservative, clean and comfortable. Shorts, tank tops and bare midriffs are not appropriate."

Which seems to be pretty standard language. I LOL'd at "conservative" as this town is anything but conservative.

I'm leaning towards pants - times certainly have improved since 2021 - but I really don't need the added anxiety, don't need to be distracting in some way, and so on.

Mr Coder my number one advice would be just contact the court and inform them your prefer attire isn't a pair of pants and don't keep it a secret from the court. If you don't tell the court it can be used against you for having a secret agenda and can be jailed for it. Unfortunately you will draw some attention and can be worse by not revealing your choice of attire. I you don't reveal to the court your prefer attire, you will be adding your anxiety regardless even you show up wearing a pair of pants. Let the court decide if you will be permitted to wear a skirt and decide from there.

[Uncle Al]

My last Jury summons was last year.
I wore a black A-Line, below the knee skirt, white dress shirt,
black compression knee-high hose & black shoes. My Med-Alert
bracelet set off the metal detector when entering the court room.
No One questioned my attire.
Then we waited.
And waited.
And waited.

The plaintiff AND the defendant No-Showed.
We were turned loose after about 1 hour.
(That includes the waiting time to get into the court room.)

Now, at 75, I'm exempt from Jury Duty

Uncle Al