Five Things To Know Before Making Your First Court Appearance
If this is your first court appearance and you’re like most people, you’re probably nervous and don’t know what to expect.
To reduce your stress level, here are five things you should know before your first court appearance.
1. Dress appropriately.
To make a good first impression in court, it is important to dress conservatively and respectfully. Avoid t-shirts, torn, overly flashy or revealing clothing. Dressing in simple, clean, and professional clothing shows the judge that you care and have put in effort. You do not need to dress in overly formal attire. There is no need to wear a suit. In general ‘business casual’ is our recommended level of formality.
2. Come prepared.
Be sure to touch base with your attorney, if you have one, prior to your hearing to make sure you’re on the same page and discuss where you will meet your attorney at the courthouse. Also, if you have not met your attorney in person, make sure to get some physical descriptors to make identification easier in a crowed area. Bring any paperwork you have received in the mail or documents relevant to your case, and make sure to take home anything you receive at court especially the date and time of any future court appearances.
3. Arrive early.
Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes early to the courthouse to give yourself time to go through security and check-in. Don’t forget to consider parking, traffic and the time it will take to find your way around the courthouse. Try to clear your schedule for the day, or at least for several hours following the scheduled time of your appearance, as you may not know how long your hearing will take.
4. Leave your phone in your pocket.
Do not take out your phone in the courtroom and make sure it is on silent so it doesn’t ring during your hearing. If you like writing notes on your phone, you may want to bring a notebook instead. Also, photography and audio or video recording is not allowed.
5. Avoid inappropriate conduct.
Inappropriate conduct in a courtroom includes, but is not limited to, chewing gum, wearing a hat, reading a newspaper listening to headphones, or interrupting the Judge or opposing side. Even more seriously, note that it is illegal to bring a dangerous weapon into a courthouse.
Conclusion
Your first court appearance is the time when the court tells you what charges you are facing and advises you of your constitutional rights, and the time when you tell the court how you wish to plead, follow these five tips to make your first court appearance successful.
