CHARLOTTE, N.C. — If you have a driver's license or are registered to vote in North Carolina, there is a chance you could be summoned for jury duty.
If you've never served on a jury, chances are you have some questions about what to expect. One user on the Charlotte Reddit page asked if they will be thrown out of court and forced to serve at a later date for what they were.
So is there an official dress code for members of a jury?
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On its website, the U.S. District Court states there is no formal dress code for legal proceedings however, they remind everyone that court is a solemn and dignified place, and to dress with that in mind.
Meanwhile, the North Carolina Judicial Branch states you should dress comfortably but not too casually, and judges may not allow halter tops or tank tops, cut-off jeans, and shirts with offensive wording or images.
"If a judge says to you in the courtroom that you need to dress appropriately, then you need to listen to what the judge says to you," Mauney said.
Mauney said while there is no set dress code in place, a judge can dictate what is appropriate in his or her courtroom.
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"If I am doing that to escape jury service that's probably not going to be an effective topic," Mauney said. "The judge is going to say tomorrow when you come back we are going to want you to dress appropriately and that means a polo shirt and some blue jeans and not a T-shirt."
Mauney said if you don't listen to the judge, there could be consequences.
"The judge is going to ask you to wear something reasonable when you come back," Mauney said. "Be dressed differently and then if you're not the judge has contempt power and the judge can hold you in contempt and that could mean a monetary fine."
So while there is no set dress code, Mauney said to wear something comfortable and appropriate.
Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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