WSJ;'s Law Blog reports that:
... courts around the country are cracking down on what they consider to be inappropriate attire, according to this story in Tuesday’s USA Today.
For instance, according to the story, Delaware courts have adopted a provision that bars skirts shorter than 4 inches above the knee when standing. “We’re not out to treat people as school kids, but we do expect if you come to court, you need to treat it with the appropriate respect and dignity it should deserve due to the occasion,” says Delaware Superior Court Judge William Witham Jr. ...
It's a good thing Ally McBeal didn't practice in Wilmington.
The story continues:
A pajama-clad woman who was turned away from court in Delaware “probably wears that outfit to the grocery store,” Fischer said. “Dressing up, that’s something that you’re taught, and if you don’t live or participate in any of the arenas where you need to dress up, you probably just don’t think about it.”
I've been unable to discover whether Delaware's Chancery Court, with which yours truly and most readers of this blog (I would guess) are mainly concerned, has adopted a comparable set of rules.
I have, however, opined on dress codes before.
Update: Prominent Delaware lawyer and blogger Francis Pileggi kindly linked to this post and passes along this observation:
Most Delaware lawyers know that it is at least an unwritten rule that a "white dress shirt" is expected of lawyers who appear in a Delaware court.
Confirms what commenter AnonCorpLawyer said below.
But why this Wimbledon like insistence on white? What would be wrong with a nice, understated blue? Would this really be unacceptable?
While we're on the subject, would this be acceptable?
Heh.
