Rule 3.010.Proper Appearance
Current through August 1, 2026 · Last verified September 12, 2026
Full Text of Rule 3.010
Plain-English Summary
The rule sets a standard, not a wardrobe. Anyone attending court must be dressed in a way that does not detract from the dignity of court, and that applies the same whether the person walks into the courtroom or joins by remote means. Nothing here lists garments, hems, or colors. The judge in the room decides whether the standard is met, and a member of the public who falls short may be removed from the courtroom.
Attorneys and court officials must wear appropriate attire when they appear, again in person or remotely. And a person may wear a religiously required head covering unless the court orders otherwise, so the covering is permitted by default and it takes an order from the court to change that.
Subsection (3) is the one people forget. If you attend by remote means, the screen other participants see must also avoid detracting from the dignity of court, and the rule reaches both a real background and a virtual one. That makes the wall behind you, the room you sit in, and any background image you select part of your appearance. Check what is in the frame before the proceeding begins, not after the judge mentions it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to court in Oregon?
The rule gives a standard rather than a list. You must be dressed so as not to detract from the dignity of court, and the judge applies that in the room. It reaches everyone attending, not only parties and lawyers.
The same standard governs a remote appearance, so treat a video hearing as court and dress for it.
Can I wear a religious head covering in the courtroom?
Yes. The rule permits a religiously required head covering unless the court orders otherwise. The default runs in favor of wearing it.
Can someone be removed from the courtroom over what they are wearing?
Members of the public who are not dressed in accordance with the rule may be removed from the courtroom. That is the enforcement the rule names.
For attorneys and court officials the rule states a duty to wear appropriate attire without spelling out a consequence.
Does the dress rule apply to a video or telephone appearance?
It does. The rule covers attendance in person and by remote means in the same breath, and it adds a separate duty for remote participants: the screen visible to the other participants must not detract from the dignity of court.
That covers a real background and a virtual one.
Is the standard different for attorneys than for the public?
The words differ. The public and everyone else attending must be dressed so as not to detract from the dignity of court. Attorneys and court officials must wear appropriate attire when appearing before the court.
In practice both point the same direction, but only the public-facing sentence carries the express power to remove someone from the courtroom.