Rule 3.020 Proper Apparel for In-custody Witnesses and Defendants Appearing in Criminal Proceedings

If you are in custody and have to appear in court for a criminal case, whether as a witness or a defendant, you need to wear regular clothes instead of jail clothing. This applies whether you're appearing in person or through a video or remote connection. The clothing needs to be neat and clean.

The only exception is if the judge specifically orders something different. Otherwise, this rule applies to every in-custody person appearing at trial.

The idea behind this rule is fairness. Seeing someone in jail clothes or shackles can make a jury assume they're guilty before hearing any evidence. Regular clothes help make sure the person is judged on the facts of the case, not on how they look while in custody.