Metro Courts to implement dress code

But I guess traffic court is way different than criminal court.

 

The problem is, justice isn't blind. It's almost impossible for it to be. Judges are called upon to use their intuition and experience, they are given discretion on many of their rulings for this reason. No matter who you are, your day in court should be one in which you show respect to that court. If you choose to act or dress inappropriately, it reflects on you, as it should, and the judge may factor that into their decision. I don't think they need a dress code, but sure, the judges can and should be able to use anything they perceive about a defendant in order to make rulings. Judges are the ones who decide who is likely to run if let out on bail, who is likely to be a future threat to their community, and who has their act together enough to be granted some leniency, and be given the benefit of the doubt that they made a mistake and have learned from it. Do you really think that the way someone dresses doesn't say anything about them that is relevant to those decisions?

I'm not saying that Judges can or should find someone to be guilty or innocent of crimes based on their clothes, but they make many other decisions.

I also think it's inappropriate to ban people from court if they aren't dressed according to a "dress code". However, if that dress code is very basic and only covers things that would mostly be inappropriate in public (see-through clothing, keep it at the after party), then I don't have much of a problem with it. Some people don't have ANY sense, and a base-line needs to be provided for them.

 

Seems to me their lack of judgment in wearing such attire is a reflection of how they came to be there in the first place.

 

This guy makes sense...

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070628/COLUMNIST0107/706280382/1007/OPINION

 

Just make sure to wear your "white clothes" to court from here on. Maybe some Lacoste boating shoes, and a sweater vest.

 

Every girls crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man...

 

You guys are mising the point, the judge is insisting on the people that come into the court room act in a respectful manner. It should be that way, the reason a great many young people wind up in front of a judge to begin with is a lack of respect for authority and basic civility. BTY, the juvy judge in my county has insisted upon this type of "dress code" for years now.