Fashion police: Judge orders cops to find tidy clothes for defendant

Defendants were sent packing to The Warehouse to find some tidier attire for court. Photo / File

Shorts and jandals while on holiday at the beach? Good. In a courtroom? Not so much.

A series of casual summer outfits drew sharp rebukes from the presiding judge in the Alexandra District Court yesterday, when seven defendants were ordered to go home and change.

Judge Michael Turner said the shorts and jandals the defendants were wearing were not suitable.

"I know it's hot outside, but there are certain standards that need to be maintained," he told one defendant, who was wearing a T-shirt and shorts.

"You're in a courtroom, not a beach," he told another, who was wearing a singlet and shorts.

"That might be appropriate for going down to the water and going fishing, but not here," he told another.

Lawyers were instructing clients who were inappropriately dressed to go home and change and one lawyer said she was sending people to The Warehouse to buy new clothes.

When one defendant returned to the dock still inappropriately dressed and the judge was told he could not afford to buy new clothes, Judge Turner said he would not make an exception and ordered police to find him something to wear.

When another person called to the dock was not present, Judge Turner remarked "word might have spread about the court attire".

Defendants reappeared throughout the day wearing new outfits, including jeans and T-shirts.

The Ministry of Justice's website states: "Everyone appearing in court should wear appropriate clothing. You should dress as smartly and tidily as you can for court."