Judge Kevin Madison, a municipal judge in Lakeway, Texas, implemented a courtroom dress code banning lawyers from wearing boots in his courtroom. When attorney George Lobb learned of the policy, he called the ban "absurd" and spread word that he may challenge the judge's dress code.
The reaction to the ban on lawyer boots was so strong that Judge Madison has now rescinded the ban on boots. To his credit, his responsiveness to the reaction shows more maturity and wisdom than many judges demonstrate when challenged over their personal courtroom rules.
Judge Madison is not the only judge known to implement strict rules on people's appearance in the courtroom. One judge holds criminal defendants in contempt of court if they come into the courtroom without having their shirts tucked in. Another judge refuses to allow lawyers to argue cases in his courtroom unless the lawyer is wearing a white dress shirt. Yet another judge allows lawyers to come to docket calls in blue jeans, tennis shoes, and casual shirts. What is acceptable to one judge in one courtroom may be grounds for contempt of court in the courtroom across the hall.
What are your thoughts on dress codes imposed by judges on lawyers and/or litigants? Do judges overstep their boundaries in telling lawyers or parties to a case what they can and cannot wear when arguing cases? Are judicial dress codes necessary for the respectful administration of court proceedings, or just an example of black robe disease? Share your thoughts and courtroom dress code horror stories in the comment section below, or discuss the issue in our Forum.
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