How necessary is it to wear a suit in court ?

[jackal]

How necessary is it to wear a suit in court ?

i mean

are these magistrates really the sort of c***ts that will take it personally if i turn up in normal smartish clothes and like ban me for double the amount of time because of that very fact ?

[slinky]

I think wearing a suit shows that you care and have some respect for the system... The mag's are people at the end of the day, so still hold normal values...

slinky

[mattd]

if i where you i'd put on my best tracksuit biggest fake bling and talk like dat innit

and you should end up with a slap on the wrist at the worst

[markmullen]

As posted the main thing is respect, look at the sentences scrotes get for contempt, they will go in for a minor offence, get gobby with the mag and get a stretch for contempt even if the original offence is punished only with a slap on the wrists. This is because of the respect the courts expect.

Usually magistrates are respectable older members of the public for whom wearing a suit to court is expected. Turn up in a shell suit and you run the risk of alienating them before your case is even heard.

At the end of the day I hope you're not in court so often for it to be an issue , I'd recommend putting a suit on just for the morning even if it pains you to do it, once you're free again you can wear what the hell you like.

And best of luck if you are going, and hope this helps if you're not.

[ATG]

Indicate you respect the court and the process, regardless of whether or not you accept the allegations, by being punctual, smartly dressed, polite, etc. ... and, inpired by the cooking brandy, I'd suggest you try to distance yourself in every way possible from the magistrates' stereotypical expectation of a person guilty of whatever offence you're being charged with. 85 in a 50 ... I'd go for the Green Party/ born again Christian look. Perhaps a jumper under the jacket.

>> Edited by ATG on Wednesday 24th November 01:50

[BlackStuff]

ATG said:

Indicate you respect the court and the process, regardless of whether or not you accept the allegations, by being punctual, smartly dressed, polite, etc. ... and, inpired by the cooking brandy, I'd suggest you try to distance yourself in every way possible from the magistrates' stereotypical expectation of a person guilty of whatever offence you're being charged with. 85 in a 50 ... I'd go for the Green Party/ born again Christian look. Perhaps a jumper under the jacket. >> Edited by ATG on Wednesday 24th November 01:50

Polo neck? Suits you sir...

[lunarscope]

ATG said:

Indicate you respect the court and the process, regardless of whether or not you accept the allegations, by being punctual, smartly dressed, polite, etc. ... and, inpired by the cooking brandy, I'd suggest you try to distance yourself in every way possible from the magistrates' stereotypical expectation of a person guilty of whatever offence you're being charged with. 85 in a 50 ... I'd go for the Green Party/ born again Christian look. Perhaps a jumper under the jacket. >> Edited by ATG on Wednesday 24th November 01:50

Twin set and pearls ?

[jacko lah]

jackal said:

are these magistrates really the sort of c***ts that will take it personally if i turn up in normal smartish clothes and like ban me for double the amount of time because of that very fact ?

They are normal human beings who want to give something back to society, in some case this means that not having a suit will count against you. In others you were speeding in a japanese car and the magistrates father came back from the war a broken man.

[slinky]

jacko lah said:

They are normal human beings who want to give something back to society, in some case this means that not having a suit will count against you. In others you were speeding in a japanese car and the magistrates father came back from the war a broken man.

Although said in jest, this can apply... You've been done for speeding, one of the mag's recently lost their elderly parent who was cycling down the side of a busy road, a policeman cited speed as a reason for the accident (because they do that!)... Thus, mag now has a personal greivance against speeders...

That's why there are three mag's, to try to get a balanced view..

slinky

[blueyes]

Recently, at an all day motoring court, I was the ONLY "offender" that turned up in a real suit (not the shell type).

I was the only one who managed a "case dismissed"

[aprisa]

Magistrates are trained to not "take account of the appearance" and/or apparant social standing of anyone appearing before them, in practice, someone who shows a respect for the court (and so some sense of self-respect) can only increase the chances of being treated with the same respect - such is life.

As mentioned however this seems to apply to about one in fifty!

You do not need a suit to show respect, in some cases even lowering their hood and removing their cap would go a long way!

[Mrs Fish]

It must mean a lot to you to have posted the question in the Seloc forums too

[gh0st :)]

jacko lah said:

They are normal human beings