What to Wear to Jury Duty — Texas Court Dress Code
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Texas Bar verified. Reggie London (Texas Bar No. 24043514) and Njeri London (Texas Bar No. 24043266) are the co-founding partners of L and L Law Group, PLLC — based at 5899 Preston Rd, Suite 101 in Frisco, Texas (Collin County), with many 5-star Google reviews, and available 24/7 for criminal defense consultations.
Table of Contents
Standard "business casual" guidelines
Appropriate Texas jury duty attire:
- Slacks or dress pants. Khakis, dress pants, business slacks
- Knee-length skirts or dresses. Modest length
- Collared shirts or blouses. Polo shirts, button-downs, blouses
- Sweaters or cardigans. Courtrooms often cold
- Closed-toe shoes. Dress shoes, loafers, conservative footwear
- Professional accessories. Minimal jewelry
- Neat appearance. Clean, well-groomed
What to avoid
- Shorts. Generally prohibited
- Flip-flops or beach footwear. Prohibited typically
- Tank tops, halter tops, low-cut shirts. Too casual
- Crop tops. Inappropriate
- Mini skirts. Too revealing
- Ripped jeans or jeans with holes. Too casual
- T-shirts with slogans or political messages. Particularly cause-related
- Sweatpants or athletic wear. Too casual
- Hats indoors. Remove inside courthouse
- Sunglasses indoors. Remove
- Pajamas. Obviously
- Strong perfumes or colognes. Consideration for others
- Open-toed shoes (some courts). Varies
Practical considerations
- Layers recommended. Courtrooms vary in temperature
- Comfortable for long days. Sitting for hours
- Easy to take through security. Limited metal
- Avoid excessive accessories. Security delays
- Phone restrictions. Most courts limit or prohibit
- Light snack acceptable typically. Long days
- Bottle of water. Usually permitted
Cell phone and electronics
- Most Texas courts allow phones into courthouse
- Phones typically must be off during proceedings
- Some courts prohibit phones entirely
- Smartwatches sometimes restricted
- Laptops typically prohibited
- Cameras prohibited
- Recording devices prohibited
- Check court rules before arriving
If turned away for clothing
If court personnel find your attire inappropriate:
- You may be sent home to change
- Time spent changing may not count toward service
- Late return may produce additional consequences
- Contempt possible in extreme cases
- Better to err on professional side
- Consult specific court rules before arrival
Texas Penalty Group 3 Charges by Weight
| Weight | Offense | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Under 28 g | Class A misdemeanor | Up to 1 year county jail + $4,000 |
| 28-200 g | 3rd degree felony | 2-10 years |
| 200-400 g | 2nd degree felony | 2-20 years |
| 400 g+ | 1st degree enhanced | 5-99 years/life + $100K |
Have a Texas legal question?
Call L and L Law Group for a free, confidential consultation. We handle criminal defense across Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties.
Call (972) 370-5060In our practice defending Texas criminal cases, we have represented clients in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant County criminal courts on the full Texas Penal Code and Health & Safety Code spectrum. Reggie's prosecutor background in Dallas County means we know the State's evidentiary playbook; Njeri's trial-trained motion practice anchors the suppression-driven defense work.
Key Legal Terms
- Penalty Group
- Texas Health & Safety Code § 481.102-481.105 classification of controlled substances by abuse potential and accepted medical use. Determines weight tiers and punishment ranges.
- Article 38.23
- Texas Code of Criminal Procedure exclusionary rule. Evidence obtained in violation of any federal or Texas constitutional or statutory provision is inadmissible against the accused.
- Aggregation
- Texas H&S § 481.002(5) rule that the total weight of any controlled substance, including adulterants and dilutants, counts toward the offense weight tier.
- 3g Offense
- CCP Article 42A.054 list of offenses ineligible for judicial probation and requiring 50% sentence served before parole eligibility (formerly Article 42.12 § 3g).
- Pretrial Diversion
- Pre-charge alternative under CCP Article 32.02 in which the prosecution agrees to dismiss charges upon successful completion of conditions (counseling, community service, restitution).
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to jury duty in Texas?
Business casual: slacks or dress pants, knee-length skirts/dresses, collared shirts/blouses, sweaters, closed-toe shoes. Avoid shorts, flip-flops, tank tops, crop tops, ripped jeans, sweatpants, hats indoors, athletic wear.
Can I wear jeans to Texas jury duty?
Clean dark jeans typically acceptable in casual courts; some courts more formal. Ripped jeans, jeans with holes, very faded jeans not acceptable. Better to wear slacks if uncertain about specific court.
Can I wear shorts to Texas jury duty?
Generally no — most Texas courts prohibit shorts. Even in summer, business casual standards apply. Knee-length skirts or dress pants appropriate; shorts almost universally prohibited.
Can I bring my phone to Texas jury duty?
Most courts allow phones into courthouse but require them off during proceedings. Some courts prohibit entirely. Smartwatches sometimes restricted. Check specific court rules. Laptops, cameras, recording devices typically prohibited.
What happens if I wear inappropriate clothing to Texas jury duty?
May be sent home to change. Time spent changing may not count toward service. Late return can produce additional consequences. Better to err on professional side. Consult specific court rules before arrival.
