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The Law Office of Cindy Allen would like to wish you a safe and happy holiday.

Top 10 Things "NOT" to Wear to Court

Res Judicata is proud to announce a monthly top 10 things (not to do).  Hopefully we can keep this up as long as the creative juices keep flowing.  The content of this blog is for entertainment purposes only and does not reflect the opinions or experiences of The Law Office of Cindy Allen or staff. 

But without further ado, we present:

What Not to Wear “to Court” TOP 10

10. Shiny Shoes

-- Although the Oklahoma City Courthouse does feature a shoeshine in the hallway, it is probably best to avoid the temptation to get a quick buff before court.  There is nothing more distracting than when a Judge, juror, or even other attorney can’t dislodge their eyes from your highly reflective shoes.  “There’s no place like home” to leave your ruby slippers Dorothy.  You are not on Broadway-- you are in a courtroom.

9. Flip-flops

-- The ever-popular beach shoes have no home in the courtroom, that is, unless your courtroom is the Tribal Court from Survivor.  Leave them home; dress professionally, and for the love of the court…Use common sense when dressing for court, no matter how attractive your pedi is (You know bright green with little suns and palm trees) nobody really wants to see your smelly feet.

8. Mid-driff

-- This is a huge no no.  Unless of course you think your beer gut, tramp stamp, well-sculpted abs, or the bit of bellybutton lint you’ve been hanging on to will play in your favor with the judge; just wear a full size shirt.  Again think professional dress, not white trash barbecue.

7. Tank-Top/ Wife Beater

-- There is nothing more attractive then a sweaty nest of armpit hair fully visible when asking the judge to grant you leniency.  Whether you are a muscle man or a stick figure, the tank top is not for court.  Not to mention when you appear before the court accused of domestic violence and your “Wife Beater Tank Top” has a bit of BBQ sauce stain down the front, you pretty much scream “Guilty as Charged”.

6. Braless

-- Although this is not “What Not to Wear”, but in fact a definite item of clothing that is essential to looking professional during your hearing.  Those courtrooms get cold if you know what I mean.  Keep the jumblies under restraint or else you could find your “al natural” appearance landing you—under restraints.

5. Expensive Suit

-- Money can’t by you love, but if it did, then you don’t need to show up to court to defend your case looking like it.  A sleek black suit tends to scream, “Weasley mafia scum.”  Top that off with a little greased back hair and you just landed yourself in the pen.  Remember professional, not Gucci.  Bad guys and ninjas always were black.  Think neutral, earthy…Switzerland.

4. Gaudy Jewelry

-- Jewelry can be an accessory but not an asset.  Think functional jewelry, i.e. watch, earrings, necklace, etc…  Don’t show up to court with facial and body piercings strung together by a chain, a wrist of jingly bracelets,  or earrings that hang down four inches, twist, sparkle, jingle, distract or any other adjectives you can think of.  Gaudy jewelry can be an accessory to your conviction, but on the bright side if you manage to smuggle one of those earrings into jail with you, you might have a good shank, lock pick, or handy tattoo needle.

3. Cut-offs

-- This goes for both girls and guys.  Cut-offs? Really.  First off you should not be wearing shorts, and at that, you should not be wearing shorts you made from a pair of holy jeans.  Perhaps you find the fray and fringe at the end a fashion statement but to the judge you look like a guilty statement.  Save those cut-offs to compliment your Tom Selleck mustache and finely feathered hair, 1970’s coming back baby!!

2. Mini Skirts

-- Maybe when you woke up and got ready for court today you thought your mini-skirt may attract the attention of a sexually repressed judge.  “Excuse me, miss, I seem to have dropped my gavel, could you pick that up for me?”  This is not Basic Instinct; it is a courtroom environment.  Not to mention your Judge could be female.  Use your head and save that mini for the after party, you know the one where you were found “Not Guilty” or were just awarded a sizable alimony for looking like a victim.

1. Graphic T-Shirts

-- Bubblicious, Sexy Girl, The B*@ch Fell Off, FBI, Big Johnson, and so on, do not have a place in the courtroom.  This is the first impression the Judge receives of you; do you want that message to be “I had sex with your girlfriend”?  Perhaps you belong in prison when you show up to your arraignment with a DOC t-shirt, and just try to beat a drug charge with a “Legalize it” and pot leaf on your shirt.  When going to court and trying to pick out something to wear, don’t even give that “Cougar Hunter” tee a second glance.  Move right on by and choose to wear something you might wear to church, not something you wear to the Sizziler. 

3 Strikes & you’re out!

On January 18, 2005 the University of Oklahoma became a dry campus. The drastic change from causal week night drinking and hall parties at fraternity houses to a zero alcohol policy caused quite a stir.
With the new Student Alcohol Policy came the “3 Strike Policy”. It sates that if a student receives 3 alcohol violations on or off campus (a strike), the student can be suspended from the University.

You might wonder what exactly counts as a strike…

• Minor in possession
• Public intoxication
• Manufacture, use or possession of false identification
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Driving while intoxicated
• Actual physical control while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Involvement in a crime while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages in University Residence Halls, fraternity houses, or sorority houses
• Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages on University property outdoors, such as housing center lawns and at Brandt Park, or in other public areas of campus
• Violation of the student Alcohol Policy by individuals or organizations.

(via ou.edu student alcohol website and the OU Student Code Handbook)
With each strike, harsher penalties are given: parent notification, to fines, to alcohol related classes, to suspension.
The question is, is it fair that strikes can be given for violations off campus?
What about game days? Why is alcohol allowed on campus and in fraternity houses on 6 Saturdays during the Fall, but no other time of the year?

visit our website at www.normanokattorney.com

Welcome

Cindy Allen opened her practice in 2003 after being a District Attorney for Cleveland, McClain, and Garvin Counties for 7 years. She represent clients in family law and criminal defense matters in Cleveland County and the surrounding areas of central Oklahoma.  With Clients, Cindy uses the trial experience she gained as a former prosecutor to resolve complex criminal and family law cases involving child abuse, neglect, drug abuse, sexual abuse, and domestic violence.  In our family law practice, we represent individuals in all aspects of the divorce process, including issues of property division and spousal support, child custody and child support.  We work with families in areas of adoption, guardianship, and paternity, and now our office is starting to focus on areas of Bankruptcy and Immigration too.

At the Law Office of Cindy Allen, we work together to aggressively protect our clients' rights.  We have an established reputation in the legal community for getting the job done and for successfully representing clients in high-conflict, contentious and highly emotionally-charged situations.  We do not back down, and we do not stop fighting for your rights.

While we work hard to fight for our clients' rights in the process, we also understand the family dynamics that exist in even the most difficult of situations. Our office is dedicated to serving all the legal needs which often arise from divorce, including wills & trusts changes or matters concerning debt and bankruptcy. We recognize that a relationship between the spouses will likely continue even after divorce, especially if children are present, and we work to sustain a practical relationship that will enable the parties to continue to address issues that arise and willingly implement the court's decrees without the need for additional enforcement.

If you need experienced legal representation in a divorce or other family law matter, or if you have been accused of a crime in Cleveland County or surrounding areas, please contact our office.

Check out our website at www.normanokattorney.com for more information on The Law Office of Cindy Allen.