In this three-part series, we are educating defendants on some logical steps to take when they appear in court. In the first section, we discussed how to mentally prepare for your trial. In this section and the final section, we will discuss the importance of your physical appearance and conduct in the courtroom. If you are in need of a federal criminal defense attorney in Tampa, please contact The Rickman Law Firm today.
There is an old quote that goes like this, “arriving late was a way of saying that your own time was more valuable than the time of the person who waited for you.” If that person left waiting is the judge then that’s certainly not a good thing. In fact, nothing positive ever comes from having a judge waiting for the defendant to show up. There are some very simple solutions to ensure that you are not scrambling to make it to your court date on time.
If you have the time, visit the courthouse in advance of your court date. This will help you gauge everything from getting dressed in the morning to the traffic around the courthouse to finding your specific courtroom in the courthouse. Taking the time to familiarize yourself with the surrounding elements of the courthouse will make it less stressful and intimidating when you need to be there. This also helps you mentally prepare for your important day.
It’s also best to visit the courthouse on the same day of the week as your court date. For example, Monday mornings are often much more crowded in courthouses than Friday afternoons. Although no one may say anything, the judge, your legal counsel, and the opposing counsel will appreciate your courtesy and punctuality when you arrive on time as well.
Although we were all taught as children to “never judge a book by its cover,” defendants are judged by their physical appearance in court. It’s necessary to be dressed professionally. When you dress nicely, you not only look good but you feel more confident as well. Your court date is a very important day in your life and you should treat it as such. Getting a haircut, trimming your facial hair, covering up tattoos, and dressing professionally are all relevant elements that juries do in fact notice about defendants.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.