How to Prepare For Court

If you believe you were falsely charged with a crime, or were justified in doing what you did, you may be eager to have your day in court and tell your side of the story. Still, no matter why you find yourself in a trial, you may be asking yourself “How do I prepare for my court date?”. Here are some things to think about while preparing for your upcoming trial.

The Importance of Proper Court Attire

The fact is, people will judge you by how you look, and how you dress for court is an important part of your preparation. While people should be able to get past your appearance, not everyone will.

So how do you know what is proper court attire?

What to Wear to Court

When you decide what to wear for court, think business casual. Lawyers used to say, “Wear your Sunday best,” or something you might wear to church or a wedding. But nowadays, as society has become more casual, even that is not entirely accurate. If you wear a suit, people may assume you are a lawyer. Dress respectfully without going overboard.

• Proper Court Attire — Male. Men should generally wear khakis or dress pants, a polo or button-down shirt, and leather shoes.
• Proper Court Attire — Female. Women should generally wear something comparable to men but have the flexibility to wear an appropriate dress or skirt.

Your clothing should be well-fitting. At least a week before your court date, check that everything fits properly and is comfortable. This will give you time to make arrangements or buy a new piece of clothing if you need to.

It is also important to pay attention to be well groomed and not appear too flashy. Keep jewelry and clothing simple. Be sure to style your hair, brush your teeth, trim your fingernails, and if you have facial hair, make sure it is neatly groomed.

While tattoos are increasingly common, they are not accepted by everyone. If you have tattoos, choose proper court attire that will cover them up.

What Not to Wear to Court

When choosing proper court attire, sometimes it is easier to think of what not to wear. Items you should not wear to court include:

• T-shirts, tank tops, or halter tops
• Shorts
• Short skirts
• Jeans or sweatpants
• Clothing that exposes your undergarments
• Pajamas
• Flip-flops, sandals, or Crocs
• Excessive jewelry or non-traditional piercings
• Hats, unless you wear a head covering for religious purposes
• Hoodies
• Clothing with offensive logos

Tips for Testifying in Court

Whether you are on the witness stand or not, the jury will be looking at you throughout the criminal trial. Anything you can do to separate yourself from the person being described by police or the prosecution’s witnesses can help create reasonable doubt.

Take Your Time Answering, Every Time

When we argue, we often like to hurry to contradict false statements. When you are testifying in court, this can become a tell for jurors trying to sniff out lies. Even if you are simply taking a moment to collect your thoughts, if you have answered other questions quickly, your relatively slow response to important questions by the prosecutor or even your own lawyer could hint that you are making up your answers. One easy way to counter this is to take your time answering, every time. When you get ready to answer, count to 5 first. This will help you seem calm and put together, and keep the jury from reading into your silence.

Only Answer What Was Asked

It is tempting to try to over-explain yourself while testifying in court. You may disagree with how the question was asked, or feel like simply saying yes or no will leave jurors with the wrong impression. However, the prosecutor may be counting on your answer to bring in issues that he or she could not legally ask you about directly. Don’t take the bait. Only answer what was asked of you. If you feel like you need to explain further, look to your criminal defense attorney to give you a chance to give context to your answer.

Keep Your Cool and Don’t Argue with the Prosecutor

One of the biggest mistakes defense witnesses fall into is arguing with the prosecutor while testifying. In fact, when you take the stand as a criminal defendant, especially in a case involving anger or violence, the prosecuting attorneys will try to make you lose your temper to show you are more likely to do what they say you did. Keep your cool. Remember that they are trying to bait you and don’t give them the satisfaction of seeing you angry. Save your anger for outside of the courtroom.

Practice Being Cross-Examined Before Testifying in Court

The only way you will be able to do many of the things described here is if you have practiced being cross-examined before going to court. No one likes being cornered, feeling stupid or being caught off guard, but those are exactly the feelings that the prosecutor will try to create in you. By practicing feeling that way and reacting positively, you can be ready so their tactics won’t surprise you on the stand. Since criminal defendants have rights to see evidence that will be used against them ahead of time, your criminal defense attorney can practice showing you the “smoking gun” picture, text message, or other evidence so that you can control your reaction, even under the stress of the trial.

What to Do at the End of a Court Hearing

When the hearing is over, you may feel emotional about the outcome. Be sure you are out of the judge’s earshot before expressing those emotions. Just outside the courtroom door may not be enough. However, don’t leave the courthouse until your attorney says it is time. You may need to wait for a new notice of hearing or court order, check in with the probation office, or pay costs or fines to the court clerk before leaving the building.

Contact an Experienced Connecticut Attorney for Help with Your Case

The Lebedevitch Law Firm is based in Fairfield, Connecticut, and proudly represents people in Stamford, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Darien, Rowayton, Fairfield, Trumbull, Westport, Wilton, Weston, Danbury, New Haven, Bethany, Woodbridge, Milford, Stratford, Bridgeport, and throughout the state.

Attorney Stephen Lebedevitch is highly respected by judges, his colleagues, and his clients, and has a proven record of success. To learn more, contact The Lebedevitch Law Firm today to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your situation and how we can help.