What To Wear Atlas

What to Wear to Jury Duty, Based on Real Court Dress Codes

The short answer: check your jury summons and your court's website first, because courts set their own rules. In the four court dress codes we compared, the common ground is clear: no shorts or tank tops. We suggest business-casual clothes, the kind you would wear to an office job or an interview; they fit all four, though one court strongly suggests business attire.

Check first: your jury summons and your court’s own website. Local rules take priority.

By Weiwei · Updated

Three of the four also tell you to bring a sweater or jacket or to dress in layers, and three restrict hats.

Check your summons and your court's website first

1. Read the summons
Identify the exact court and any clothing instructions.
2. Open its jury page
Look for Jurors, Jury Service or Jury FAQ on that court’s own website.
3. Find “dress” or “attire”
Read the full local requirement, including exceptions.
4. Ask the jury office
Use the number on the summons or the court’s website if anything is unclear.
Fig. 1 — Find your court’s instructions. Our search steps. Maryland specifically directs jurors to their summons and local jury office. Maryland Courts. Illustration.

We found no national dress code for jurors. Federal district courts, state courts, and county courts each publish their own guidance, and they don't all agree. The Maryland Judiciary, for example, tells jurors to "always read your Juror Summons and check with your local Jury Office to learn about the specific requirements" for their county. Source

That is also true if you are searching for what to wear to jury duty in Los Angeles, San Diego, or New York City: the answer is on your own court's jury page, not on a city-wide list.

How to find your court's dress code in two minutes

  1. Read your summons. It names the court; check whether it also links to the court's jury page.
  2. Open the court's jury page. Look for "Jurors," "Jury Service," or "Jury FAQ."
  3. Search the page for "dress" or "attire." Many courts answer the question in one paragraph.
  4. Still nothing? Call the jury office. Look for its phone number on your summons or the court's website.

What courts actually say: four dress codes compared

We read these four official court pages on October 26, 2026. They show how much the rules vary, from "business attire is strongly suggested" to "please dress comfortably."

What to wear to jury duty: comparison
CourtHow formalNot allowedAlso noted
U.S. District Court, Central District of California"Business attire is strongly suggested. Ties are not required."Shorts, mini-skirts, tank tops, flip-flops, hats (except for religious purposes)Jurors not appropriately dressed "will be sent home and ordered to appear for jury service on a future date." Courtrooms can be cold; a sweater or jacket is recommended.
Maryland Courts"There is no formal dress code," but jurors "must dress appropriately for the seriousness of the proceedings." Acceptable: clothing for an office job or a job interview; slacks or a skirt with a collared shirt or blouse, or a dressUniforms and hats (except for religious reasons), employer badges, logo or graphic T-shirts, beach or athletic wear, shorts, tank tops, bare midriffs, see-through clothingUnacceptable clothing "may result in an extension of your service term or another sanction." No strong fragrances. The courthouse "may be chilly"; bring a sweater or jacket.
Oregon Judicial Department, Jackson County"Please dress comfortably. Suits and ties or dresses are not required."Caps and hats in the courtroom, bare feet, sunglasses, revealing clothing such as shorts and tank or cropped tops, strong perfume or cologneRoom temperatures vary; dress in layers. The not-allowed list is the court's general guidance for anyone coming to court, including jurors.
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Iowa"Comfortable but appropriate business-like clothing"Shorts, jeans, T-shirts, tank tops, sweatshirtsPhoto ID required. Cell phones, laptops, and other electronic devices are not permitted in the courthouse.

On a narrow screen, scroll the table sideways.

The pattern: shorts and tank tops are ruled out by all four courts. Beyond that, the differences matter. Only the Northern District of Iowa bans jeans by name; the other three don't mention them. Source That is why learning what to wear to jury duty in your own court is worth two minutes.

What courts commonly rule out

Across these four courts, the items most often named are:

What to wear to jury duty for women

1234
  1. White blouse
  2. Charcoal cardigan
  3. Navy trousers
  4. Black flats
Fig. 2a — Office separates. Our suggestion; your summons and court’s dress code take priority. Screen colors differ from fabric. Illustration.
123
  1. Navy midi dress
  2. Charcoal cardigan
  3. Black flats
Fig. 2b — Dress and sweater. Choose a knee-length or longer hem; check your court’s instructions. Screen colors differ from fabric. Illustration.
Shorts; tank tops
Not allowed in all four court sources compared in this article.
Flip-flops
Not allowed in the Central District of California example.
Hats
California and Maryland make a religious exception; Jackson County asks for removal in court.
Jeans; sweatshirts
Not allowed in the Northern District of Iowa example. Read your own court’s rules.
Fig. 2 — Restrictions differ by court. A summary of the four linked court examples above, not a national dress code. Illustration.

Maryland's list of acceptable clothing is a good template: "slacks or a skirt paired with a collared shirt or blouse, or a dress." Source Two outfits that should fit every court above:

Skip tank tops (all four courts) and mini-skirts (Central District of California). You may sit for hours, so choose fabrics that don't wrinkle badly and shoes you can walk in.

What to wear to jury duty for men

1234
  1. White collared shirt
  2. Charcoal knit sweater
  3. Navy trousers
  4. Black loafers
Fig. 2c — Collared shirt and trousers. Carry the sweater for cold rooms; check your own court’s dress code. Screen colors differ from fabric. Illustration.
1234
  1. White collared shirt
  2. Navy blazer
  3. Navy trousers
  4. Black loafers
Fig. 2d — With a blazer. For a court that suggests business attire. Screen colors differ from fabric. Illustration.

For men, what to wear to jury duty is simple: chinos or dress trousers with a collared shirt fit all four courts we checked; we suggest adding a blazer or sweater for courts that suggest business attire. The Central District of California says "ties are not required." Source Wear closed shoes, not flip-flops. If you usually wear a cap, plan to take it off in the courtroom.

Can I wear jeans, leggings, or sneakers to jury duty?

Jeans: it depends on your court. The Northern District of Iowa says jeans "should not be worn." Source The other three courts don't mention jeans. Jackson County asks jurors to "dress comfortably" but also to "dress like you are doing serious business." Source If your court doesn't say, we suggest trousers or chinos; if you do wear jeans, choose a dark, clean pair with no rips.

Leggings: Maryland rules out athletic wear. Source We suggest wearing leggings only under a dress or long top, not as gym wear.

Sneakers: none of the four courts bans sneakers by name, but Maryland's ban on athletic wear and the Central District's "business attire" suggestion point toward plain, clean shoes. Leather sneakers or loafers are a safe middle ground.

Shorts: no. All four courts rule them out.

A sweatshirt or hoodie: the Northern District of Iowa bans sweatshirts; a cardigan or plain sweater is safer anywhere.

Dress for a long day: cold rooms, security, and selection

Jury service can mean hours of waiting in an assembly room, then sitting in a courtroom during selection. Comfort is part of what to wear to jury duty, from orientation on the first day through a long trial. If you are called for a grand jury, check your own summons; none of the four pages addresses grand juries separately.

What to bring that affects your outfit

Only a few "what to bring" items affect what you wear: a sweater or jacket, a photo ID if your court requires one (the Northern District of Iowa does Source), and a bag that can go through screening. Rules on phones, laptops, food, and drinks differ a lot between courts; check your court's page for the full list.

Will what I wear get me out of jury duty?

No. None of these courts lists clothing as a reason to be excused, and dressing badly can backfire. The Central District of California says jurors who are not appropriately dressed "will be sent home and ordered to appear for jury service on a future date." Maryland warns that unacceptable clothing "may result in an extension of your service term or another sanction." Source Source

People search for what to wear to jury duty to not get picked, but we don't offer tips for that. If jury service would cause you real hardship, check your summons and your court's website for how to ask for a postponement or an excuse.

Another occasion where official rules decide the answer: what to wear for passport photo sessions, where the State Department sets the requirements.

US rules on this page come from the official court pages linked above, read on October 26, 2026. Courts update their pages; your summons and your court's website always take priority.

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Sources

Sources checked .