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Post by dukehoops on Aug 7, 2014 20:10:10 GMT -5
Would appreciate any insight on appropriate office attire for ALJs on non-hearing days and hearing days. I need to buy some new clothes ASAP and don't know whether to err on the side of business casual, suit-and-tie, or somewhere in-between. I'll be in Philadelphia East, in case it's an office-by-office thing. Thanks in advance!!
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Post by hopefalj on Aug 7, 2014 20:51:49 GMT -5
No dress code. You'll see everything from jeans to suits. Business casual seems to be sufficient, but it's really whatever you'll feel comfortable with. Might want to wear a suit your first week so you're not under dressed while you get a feel for how Philly judges dress.
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Post by privateatty on Aug 8, 2014 6:44:59 GMT -5
Actually this subject has come up. The general consensus is just as hopefalj has reported and advised. When in Rome is the watchword and once you get the lay of the land then hit Costco/Ross/TJMax/Marshall's if you feel the need for some more Dockers and dress shirts. Of course some folks dress down just as some dress up. Personality issue, IMHO.
Enjoy your new gig.
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Post by anotherfed on Aug 8, 2014 9:44:53 GMT -5
Always wear something under your robe, so that if you catch that sudden gust of wind, you won't have a judicial wardrobe malfunction...
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Post by gary on Aug 8, 2014 10:19:20 GMT -5
Always wear something under your robe, so that if you catch that sudden gust of wind, you won't have a judicial wardrobe malfunction... Doesn't that limit the effectiveness of the summer weight robe?
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Post by ok1956 on Aug 8, 2014 11:04:12 GMT -5
Always wear something under your robe, so that if you catch that sudden gust of wind, you won't have a judicial wardrobe malfunction... Hahahahaha that's a visual I wish I could forget!
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Post by arkstfan on Aug 8, 2014 11:32:23 GMT -5
Varies greatly by office. Some places you'll see suits at least Monday - Thursday and other places jeans and polo style shirts rule.
Keep a robe handy. The day you think you'll come in for a few hours and slide in wearing jeans and t-shirt, something will come up and you need to cover some hearings.
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Post by WhereIsTheFrontDoor on Aug 8, 2014 11:42:20 GMT -5
Attire for the first day is easy: Cowboy boots, jorts, and an airbrushed t-shirt with the sleeves cut-off that says "The Judge Is Here". Really sets the tone, and makes a killer first impression.
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Post by gary on Aug 8, 2014 11:50:59 GMT -5
Attire for the first day is easy: Cowboy boots, jorts, and an airbrushed t-shirt with the sleeves cut-off that says "The Judge Is Here". Really sets the tone, and makes a killer first impression. I'd go old school: "Here Comes the Judge! Here Comes the Judge! Here Comes the Judge!" If you don't wear a XXXXL t-shirt, a single "Here Comes the Judge!" will suffice.
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Post by sandiferhands (old) on Aug 8, 2014 11:56:03 GMT -5
Always wear something under your robe, so that if you catch that sudden gust of wind, you won't have a judicial wardrobe malfunction... Leave it to anotherfed to take a perfectly helpful, informative thread and turn it into something much more fun...
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Post by sealaw90 on Aug 8, 2014 12:09:54 GMT -5
Varies greatly by office. Some places you'll see suits at least Monday - Thursday and other places jeans and polo style shirts rule. Keep a robe handy. The day you think you'll come in for a few hours and slide in wearing jeans and t-shirt, something will come up and you need to cover some hearings. keep a robe handy - does this imply that ALJs wear their robes during the commute from home and work? Don't they have a hanger in your office or should newbies bring that with them on the first day?
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Post by 71stretch on Aug 8, 2014 12:39:47 GMT -5
I still have my "she who must be obeyed" collared sweatshirt and matching coffee cup. Even the coffee cup has stayed at home for years, but you never know.
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Post by sealaw90 on Aug 8, 2014 13:17:01 GMT -5
When I was a freshly minted JAG in my first office in the south, I got ribbed constantly about being a "Yankee" since I came from north of the Mason-Dixon line. I got pretty sick of it, so when I went home for a visit, I bought a coffee mug that says "I'm from New York, what's your excuse?" and used it for the entire tour. No more wise cracks. I retired that mug after that tour, but still have it, as a pencil holder in my house.
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Post by philliesfan on Aug 8, 2014 13:41:33 GMT -5
Dukehoops:
In Philly East the men wear dress shirts and ties at least on hearing days. You cna wear a suit or sport jacket if you want. The women generally wear pants suits, dresses, or suits on hearing days. On non-hearing days, jeans and sneakers, professional casual, etc. However, keep in mind, you never know when you may have to cover hearings for another Judge who is ill. Everyone wears a robe.
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Post by privateatty on Aug 8, 2014 13:59:30 GMT -5
Always wear something under your robe, so that if you catch that sudden gust of wind, you won't have a judicial wardrobe malfunction... Hahahahaha that's a visual I wish I could forget! I know how you feel. I could never forget Marilyn Monroe's "malfunction" (more functional than a "mal") with Tom Ewing oggling her.
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Post by cougarfan on Aug 9, 2014 10:16:24 GMT -5
When I was hired I reached out to the HOCALJ to introduce myself, at the end of the conversation I asked him about dress practice in the office. He was more than happy to help me figure out the general culture of the office. Someone made a good point about keeping in mind the occasional "opportunity" to fill in for an ill judge. For that reason I typically keep one tie at the office and usually wear collared shirts so that I can throw on a tie if I need to fill in for someone.
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Post by southerner on Aug 13, 2014 17:00:01 GMT -5
Most but not all judges wear the black robes for hearings. In New Orleans metro, men vary from occasional suits to casual, but casual is the most common.
For hearings I do wear a button down shirt, but pants may be linen, jeans, khakis, or whatever. And I uusally wear top siders. For non-hearing days, I like short-sleeve polo shirts mostly. Except for Fridays before NFL football games when officewear consists of black and gold (our office is directly across the street from the Superdome).
I do keep two dress shirts, pair of pants handy as well as socks and dress shoes just in case we have an event, CALJ or Comm'r or RCALJ visits.
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Post by onepingonly on Aug 13, 2014 19:00:49 GMT -5
In my office, all the judges wear robes. Two of the gents wear suits most days (and all hearing days). Two others mostly wear casual pants and a casual button-down shirt. There is an unusually high incidence of Hawaiian shirts for an office which, although semi-tropical, is not in Hawaii. All wear socks. The ladies wear slacks, mostly, and generally very nice business casual attire. Jeans and polos make rare appearances. Just ask yourself: what would Atticus Finch or Judge Turner (Myrna Loy) wear? You can't go wrong.
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Post by hopefalj on Aug 13, 2014 19:19:45 GMT -5
Other possible judges one may wish to emulate...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2014 21:46:47 GMT -5
The office to which I report has stated that robes are the rule. I can appreciate and agree and will comply with that. After two decades of representing claimants on the other side of the table, I will candidly say that invariably when the Judge is robed the claimants always took notice, were more alert, cordial, respectful and paid 100% more attention. For the unrobed appearances, invariably after the hearing was over the claimant would ask akin to "Where was the Judge? I thought there would be a Judge, who was the guy/woman asking questions? Was he/she the Judge's assistant?"
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