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Judges dressing down sloppy jurors and defendants
The Washington Times ^ | 8-1-05 | Metro

Posted on 08/01/2005 12:04:05 PM PDT by JZelle

CHARLOTTESVILLE (AP) -- Forget about flip-flops in the White House. General District Judge Roger Morton has seen his share of fashion offenses by defendants, including shorts, T-shirts and a sweat shirt with the words "Sex Kitten" on the back. Judge Morton wonders how the courtroom would react if he took to casual clothing. "If I were up there wearing a Jimmy Buffett shirt," he said, "you'd think I was a little off beam." The problem only gets worse in the summer when flip-flops turn into formal footwear and bellies and body jewelry are bared. Judge Morton, who oversees the Culpeper and Madison general district courts, and his colleagues on the bench are taking action against sloppy defendants and jurors by setting dress codes. They aren't alone. In York County, the dress code reads: "Anyone not properly dressed upon arriving in the courtroom may be sent away until properly dressed or may be found in contempt of court and subject to a fine or incarceration or both." Edna DeChristopher, clerk for York's juvenile and domestic relations court, said most inappropriately dressed defendants just get sent home and have their hearings rescheduled.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: casualdress; fashion; flipflops; judge; sexkitten
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To: auto power

dress in the workplace? I worked for a computer technology company whose young computer geek kids worked 24/7. I'd come in in the mornings and the kids would be walking around barefoot, in shorts with their pillows - and Breathright Strips on their noses!


21 posted on 08/01/2005 12:31:57 PM PDT by peacebaby (Hot town, summer in the city. Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty.)
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To: TheOtherOne
About 40 years ago an attorney appeared for a hearing in Arlington County (Virginia) Circuit Court wearing a shirt that was a shade of pink rather than the more customary white, yellow, or blue. For some reason the judge was enraged at this, and ordered the man to never again show up in his courtroom with a pink shirt on. This, in turn, upset the local bar who resented being pushed around by a judge they considered an ill tempered petty tyrant.

Over the next two weeks every attorney in Arlington, and many from the surrounding counties, noticed some motion or other for a particular Friday when that judge was sitting again. When the judge took the bench that day he looked out over a packed courtroom with every single individual in it wearing a pink shirt and staring back at him.

22 posted on 08/01/2005 12:32:05 PM PDT by PUGACHEV
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To: TheOtherOne

Shades of "My Cousin Vinnie"!!


23 posted on 08/01/2005 12:34:06 PM PDT by najida (Now living with cutting edge 1950's technology.)
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To: najida
Shades of "My Cousin Vinnie"!!

Probably one of the reasons my father enjoyed that movie far more than he should have.

24 posted on 08/01/2005 12:36:31 PM PDT by TheOtherOne (I often sacrifice my spelling on the alter of speed™)
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To: 76834

We live in South Mississippi and attend a non-denominational church. Casual and comfortable are fine and during the summer, it is not odd for our pastor to be in shorts, polo shirt and sandals. He still teaches the Word from the Bible and all seems to work just fine. Hot climates tend to tolerate a more casual/comfortable dress code for most things and I fail to see how God cares if I am all duded up like a fashion plate and choked by a tie, or if I am dressed for the climate. People care about such things, God isn't such a sartorial snob.


25 posted on 08/01/2005 12:36:34 PM PDT by trebb ("I am the way... no one comes to the Father, but by me..." - Jesus in John 14:6 (RSV))
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To: JZelle
Last time I was called to jury duty I wore a t-shirt with "Stop Lawsuit Abuse" on the front. On the back is a picture of a shark going after $$ as bait with a "Please Don't Feed the Trial Lawyers" sign sitting by the lake. I had a half dozen people offer to buy it off my back if they got called. I didn't get called and their offers were not lucrative enough for me to lose the shirt.
26 posted on 08/01/2005 12:38:00 PM PDT by my4kidsdad
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To: trebb

Agree.
From what I understand about the Bible, Jesus didnt wear suits and ties either.
The important thing is whats in your soul, not whats on your body.


27 posted on 08/01/2005 12:38:46 PM PDT by 76834 (There's nothing wrong with sobriety in moderation.)
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To: Cincinatus

LOL - my first thought too!


28 posted on 08/01/2005 12:39:11 PM PDT by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: 76834

Yep, and Paul even told us that he wasn't above studying a People and learning how they acted and talked in order to infiltrate and become as they were in order to find a way to carry the Word to them.


29 posted on 08/01/2005 12:43:41 PM PDT by trebb ("I am the way... no one comes to the Father, but by me..." - Jesus in John 14:6 (RSV))
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To: JZelle

I agree with the judge. Serving as a juror involves showing some respect for the court and dressing accordingly. The last time I was called to jury duty was about two years ago for city court. I was appalled at what some folks considered appropriate dress for jury duty -- shorts, grubby t-shirts, you name it. The defendants were dressed better than most of the jurors!


30 posted on 08/01/2005 12:44:08 PM PDT by billnaz (What part of "shall not be infringed" don't you understand?)
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To: JZelle
Judge (to juror): Sir, I find your wearing pajamas in the courtroom to be an affront to this bench.

Juror: Your honor, what is that you are wearing?

Judge: It is a robe.

Juror: I rest my case.

31 posted on 08/01/2005 12:45:04 PM PDT by OB1kNOb (You can't rollerskate in a buffalo herd, but you can be happy if you've a mind to. - Roger Miller)
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To: DeFault User

I am amazed at the number of posters on this thread that brag about the ends they have gone to to avoid being seated on a jury. People fought and died for us to have a jury system. How can you be proud of that accomplishment much less brag about it?


32 posted on 08/01/2005 12:45:47 PM PDT by RushLake (Democrats in the senate and house have never met a terrorist they didn't like.)
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To: One Proud Dad

I've gotten to where I can hardly go to any of the popular river swimming spots here in Texas. I am so sick of fat people with bulging butts, belly rolls, huge drooping tits sticking out of tiny triangles, men with huge beer bellies and speedos. They seem to think everybody is just dying to look at their gross black tattoos.

And the kids! Fat, fat little girls with tiny bikinis, fat boys with great baggy shorts hanging from their fat butts.

Sorry to vent. I guess I am just sick of ugly bodies.


33 posted on 08/01/2005 12:47:18 PM PDT by squarebarb
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To: Xenalyte

Jesus would have worn blue jeans had they been available way back when.


34 posted on 08/01/2005 12:48:01 PM PDT by Rebelbase (Mexico, the 51st state.)
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To: JZelle
I have a couple of distant cousins who are just a little bit off. They are not bad boys but also not quite right.

Their Father, who was a pretty decent man, died and I went to the funeral. I noticed the two boys wearing pull over shirts.

At first I was a little perturbed that they dressed so poorly at their Father's funeral, then I realized that is all they had.

35 posted on 08/01/2005 12:49:10 PM PDT by yarddog
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To: cubreporter
After all the church and the courtroom are not the beach and park.

Nor are they a high society fashion ball. But you would not know that from many Churches you see.

Whether dressing up or down, it is those who do so to the extreme that make us all look bad. Modesty is neither bare nor haughty.

1 Timothy 2:9

36 posted on 08/01/2005 12:49:52 PM PDT by Between the Lines (Be careful how you live your life, it may be the only gospel anyone reads.)
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To: billnaz

Show some respect for the court... honestly, showing up and being prepared to serve sounds enough like respect to me. I got called (but not selected) for duty about two years ago. I was a college student and worked for a computer place where the "dress code" was blue jeans and a t-shirt. That, and two Sunday dresses, are still my entire wardrobe. If I'm cleanly, modestly attired, why should it matter if I'm wearing jeans or khakis? If you want to declare how I should dress, you should be my employer. Or my mother. Not a judge.


37 posted on 08/01/2005 12:50:31 PM PDT by JenB
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To: trebb

I find the whole concept of dressing up to go to church plank-eyed blindness.


38 posted on 08/01/2005 12:52:33 PM PDT by Rebelbase (Mexico, the 51st state.)
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To: squarebarb

I concur, I have lost my sense of decorum and now open ly snicker as I walk past or comment to them.


39 posted on 08/01/2005 12:53:23 PM PDT by One Proud Dad
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To: trebb
People care about such things, God isn't such a sartorial snob.

Amen.

40 posted on 08/01/2005 12:53:33 PM PDT by Between the Lines (Be careful how you live your life, it may be the only gospel anyone reads.)
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