Kilts in a courthouse?

[Brewboy]

I've worn kilts while filing and dropping off courtesy copies to judges, but have yet to bee kilted while before a judge. I would absolutely wear it for jury duty if I was called.

[TheKiltedWonder]

If it doesn't say "no kilts" then I don't see the problem. If you were a defendant and were worried about the judges impression that might be one thing, but what's the worst that could happen? You get kicked off the jury for being "odd"?

[AtagahiKC]

I think a Utilikilt would be too casual, but a tartan kilt would be dressy enough, especially if worn with a dress shirt and vest or jacket. As long as you look sharp and don't make a big deal of it, they probably won't say anything.

I definitely wouldn't ask ahead of time. Just show up that way. If they don't like it, they can send you home to change.

If they did that I'd sure find a way to work it into voir dire or write in big letters on the jury questionnaire to let them know that you are prejudiced against the prosecution (representing the government) at this point for the court having discriminated against your heritage and your freedom of speech.

If it is a civil case, I'd tell them that you can no longer be impartial for any court hearing after what the court pulled on you.

BUT, if you are in a big county with large jury pools, keep in mind that you might just get bounced out of one voir dire and into the pool to sit and wait for another case.

[cessna152towser]

This is what I wear in court.

[Prester John]

As I am one of the Orthodox priests on this forum, I just wanted to say...

Love the cross in your avatar!

[Cat]

Personally, I'd wear it and see what they say. After all, a kilt isn't jeans and it isn't shorts. The only thing I'd worry about is maybe getting slapped with a contempt of court charge, but I highly doubt anyone would want to bother (and I don't even know if they could do that anyway, since I'm no lawyer or judge.)

I think they should let you wear it, but I also understand that juries are supposed to be "transparent" (ie, they don't want people paying attention to the jurors, but to the actual trial itself) during hearings, and they may consider it too attention-getting. Not really right in my book, but realistically they might look at it this way.

I'd definitely (but politely) bring up the other ethnic garments mentioned earlier in the thread if they give you any problems though. Besides, it's not like you'd be wearing a beer helmet, sandals and Hawaiian shirt or something like that! (Although that would probably make jury duty a hell of a lot more fun!)

[1oldsarge]

Having been a Deputy (bailiff) in a courtroom, I'd suggest you make a phone call, or possibly suffer the wrath of a judge. Better safe than sorry.

[Tommy Hunt]

It would be difficult getting the sgian dubh through the front door wouldn't it?

[Tattoo Bradley]

It would be difficult getting the sgian dubh through the front door wouldn't it?

A kilt and a sgain dubh are two completely different things. I personally don't wear a sgain dubh at all while kilted.

[Robert Lamb]

I wore trousers for a jury selection.(no shorts or short skirts).and I was selected for a grand jury panel.
I asked the judge in charge of the jury selections if it would be OK to wear a kilt on grand jury. He said it was OK but wanted to know why I wasn't wearing one at the time. I told him I didn't wanted to be held for contempt of court.
The grand jury panel was for 5 weeks every Fri. (for about 8 hrs a day) and I wore a different kilt every time.
We even went on tour and lunch of the county lock up one morning. I had no problems and was quite comfy.
So I guess if you live in Washington County, Ore. wearing a kilt is a proper clothing item.