Dress up for court, or get arrested? - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

Dress up for court, or get arrested?

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SCOTT COUNTY, MO (KFVS) -

If you go to the Circuit Court of Scott County, you should be prepared with the right clothes.

Scott County court officials are pushing a dress code for people in the courtroom.

"We have people currently today that are coming in pajamas, fuzzy slippers are something we see almost on a weekly basis, we've seen people come in with curlers in their hair, shirts with offensive sayings, clothes that are too tight, revealing, shirts too low, skirts too short," said Scott County Circuit Clerk Christy Hency.

Hency said a dress code has been tossed around for years. But, as the county moves court proceedings into the newly renovated Judicial Building, county officials are starting a new dress code for a new courtroom.

"It's not necessarily that they need to be dressed so spick and span, it's just a simple matter of showing respect," said Hency.

The dress code states: no tank-tops, tube tops, cut offs, shorts, sleepwear, house shoes, or flip-flops. No offensive images on clothing, and pants should be secured at the waist. People will be asked to remove hats, and turn off cell phones. Food, drink, and gum will also be banned from the courtroom.

"It's just a simple matter of showing respect to the court system, and taking it seriously, and by some appearances, you really wonder, do they?" said Hency.

The new courtroom renovation is expected to be completed February 15, 2013. Hency said that's also when the new dress code will go into effect.

But, Hency said they will let things slide for the first few weeks.

"They'll be a warning period, we're not going to issue warrants because you had to be sent home, yet, but there is going to come a time where we mean the dress code, and it is going to be enforced," said Hency.

Attorneys will be responsible for making sure their clients meet the code.

"We don't expect people to go and buy new clothes to go to court, it's simply just come dressed appropriate," said Hency.

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