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Style guide · · 5 min read

What to wear to jury duty: what 17 US courts say

What to wear to jury duty, based on the juror pages of 17 US courts: what's banned, whether jeans are allowed, and an outfit that suits the strict ones.

A man in a navy cardigan over a light blue shirt and grey chinos walking down the stone steps of a columned civic building with a leather bag

Wear business casual to jury duty: smart trousers or a knee-length skirt, a collared shirt, blouse or fine knit, and closed shoes, with a sweater or jacket for the courtroom. Skip shorts, tank tops, T-shirts and jeans. We read the juror pages of 17 US courts, and the rules do vary, so check your summons and your court’s website first.

There’s no single national rule. Each court sets its own, and some are much stricter than others. A helpful summary from Dallas County: “Dress as you would for church or a job interview.”

What 17 courts ask jurors to wear

We read these pages on 5 November 2026: 9 federal district courts and 8 state or county courts. They aren’t a statistical sample, just a spread of places, so use them to see the pattern and then look up your own court. The summaries are ours, so follow the link for each court’s own wording.

CourtWhat it asks forWhat it rules out
Central District of California (federal)Business attire strongly suggested, no tie neededShorts, mini-skirts, tank tops, flip-flops, hats unless religious
Connecticut (federal)Business casualTank or halter tops, shorts, T-shirts, blue jeans, sweatpants. No hats in the courtroom
Eastern District of New York (federal)Business or business casual, and it’s mandatoryJeans, shorts, tank tops, sweats, other very casual clothes
Southern District of Florida (federal)Casual business attire requiredShorts, jeans, T-shirts
Northern District of Georgia (federal)Comfortable clothesPrefers no tank tops, halters or flip-flops
Northern District of Iowa (federal)Comfortable, business-like clothesShorts, jeans, T-shirts, tank tops, sweatshirts
Middle District of Alabama (federal)Business casual encouragedShorts, halter or tank tops, thong sandals
Western District of North Carolina (federal)No formal code, but dress respectfullyShorts, tank tops, bare midriffs, offensive words or images
Northern District of Oklahoma (federal)Business casualTank or halter tops, shorts, T-shirts, sweatpants. No hats in the courtroom
Alameda County, CaliforniaAs for a business meeting or social functionShorts, tank tops, bare feet
Contra Costa County, CaliforniaBusiness or casual attireShorts, tank tops
Maricopa County, ArizonaBusiness casualShorts, tank tops, work uniforms
Cook County, IllinoisComfortable, but proper for a courthouseShorts, mini-skirts, tank tops, halters
Dallas County, TexasAs for church or a job interviewShorts, tank tops
Bexar County, TexasProper attireShorts, skorts, capri pants, tank tops
Miami-Dade County, FloridaAppropriate business attireShorts, uniforms
Sixth Judicial Circuit, FloridaBusiness casual: slacks, khakis, skirts, button-down shirtsShorts, tank tops, T-shirts, ripped clothing, flip-flops, hats

Here’s how often each item came up across the 17 pages:

ItemNamed as not appropriate
Shorts16 of 17
Tank tops15 of 17
T-shirts5 of 17
Jeans4 of 17
Flip-flops or thong sandals4 of 17
Hats4 of 17

A court that doesn’t mention something hasn’t necessarily allowed it. Jeans are the clearest example: only four pages rule them out, but two of the others ask for business attire, which jeans usually aren’t.

An outfit that suits even the strict courts

If you dress for the strictest rules in that table, you’ll be fine almost anywhere. You probably own most of this already.

Women’s outfitMen’s outfit
TopBlouse, collared shirt or fine knitCollared shirt, with or without a knit
BottomSmart trousers, or a knee-length skirt or dressChinos or smart trousers
ShoesClean flats, loafers or low bootsLoafers or leather lace-ups
LayerCardigan or light jacketKnit or light jacket

A tie isn’t needed. Central California says so directly, and none of the other pages asks for one. The dress codes guide explains the difference between business casual and business attire, and the job interview guide has more outfit ideas at the same level.

Practical things the courts mention

The clothes rules are only part of it. A few courts also point out these details:

  • Bring a layer. Ten of the 17 pages say that courtrooms can be cold or that temperatures vary, or they recommend a jacket or sweater. A shirt alone may not be enough, even in summer.
  • Think about security. Southern Florida, Middle Alabama and Western North Carolina suggest leaving extra jewellery and metal at home because of the metal detector. Western North Carolina also warns about steel-toe shoes.
  • Go easy on scent. Middle Alabama asks jurors to limit perfume and cologne, because many people have allergies or breathing conditions.
  • Leave your work uniform at home. Maricopa County doesn’t allow uniforms, and that includes scrubs and dress-down versions. You’d be asked to change or given a new date. Miami-Dade rules out uniforms too.
  • Check what you can carry. Northern Iowa doesn’t allow phones or laptops in the courthouse and asks for drinks with sealed lids. Other courts will differ, so check yours.

Comfort matters too, because you may spend a lot of the day sitting and waiting. Choose a waistband and shoes you can sit in for hours. If you have a medical need or are pregnant and aren’t sure what’s allowed, ask the jury office. None of the pages we read covers this.

What if you get it wrong?

You might lose a day. Central California sends inappropriately dressed jurors home and orders them to return on a future date. Contra Costa County sends them home to return the next court day. Cook County sends them home to change at their own expense.

That also answers a question people search for: can you dress to avoid being picked? None of these 17 pages says that clothes affect who gets chosen, and we can’t tell you how a particular lawyer or judge would react. What the pages do describe is being sent away and having to come back, so it isn’t a way out.

If your court isn’t listed, look for “jury” or “juror” on its website and read the summons. We couldn’t find a dress code for Harris County, Texas, for example, so a juror there would need to ask the jury office. Alameda County gives the same advice for anyone in doubt: check with the jury commissioner.

Getting it ready the night before

You’re unlikely to need anything new. Choose the outfit the evening before, check it sitting down, and put your layer and summons by the door. That’s the kind of planning we’d like Amalook to make easier once it’s out, using photos of your own clothes. For now, a note on your phone does the job.

Common questions

Can you wear jeans to jury duty?

It depends on the court. Four of the 17 court pages we read name jeans as not appropriate, and the others don't mention them. Unless your court says they're fine, wear smart trousers instead.

What happens if you wear the wrong thing to jury duty?

You may be sent away. Of the courts we read, Central California gives you a new date, Contra Costa County has you come back the next court day, and Cook County sends you home to change at your own expense.

Can you wear something to avoid being picked for a jury?

None of the 17 court pages we read says that clothes affect who is picked. The consequence they do describe is being sent home and having to come back, so it isn't a way out of jury service.

Can you wear a hat or a religious head covering to jury duty?

Several courts ban hats in the courtroom. Central California makes an exception for religious reasons. If your court's page doesn't mention it, ask the jury office before you go.

Sources

Checked on 5 November 2026. Listings change, so check them again before you decide.

Written by the Pleyada team in Paphos, Cyprus. Questions or ideas? Write to hello@pleyada.tech.

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