New York Jury Duty Guide · Reviewed September 2, 2026

By Jason Tenenbaum, Esq. · 24+ Years in NY State + Federal Courts

What to Wear to Jury Duty
in New York

The juror’s dress code for New York City, Nassau, and Suffolk courthouses — what to wear, what gets you sent home, what to bring, and what to expect at the door.

Read the Quick Answer Jury Duty FAQ →

Quick Answer: The New York Jury Duty Dress Code

Jury duty in New York is business casual. Wear a collared shirt or blouse, slacks, khakis, or a knee-length skirt, and closed shoes. Do not wear shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, hats, or clothing with offensive text — court officers can send you home to change, which restarts your service day. Bring a blazer or cardigan: assembly rooms and courtrooms run cold.

If you are sent into a courtroom for jury selection or seated on a trial, step up one level — the attorneys and the judge are watching. And always check your summons and the court’s website: the summons is the controlling source for your courthouse.

The Juror’s Outfit

What to Wear to Jury Duty

Comfortable enough to sit for six hours, presentable enough to be questioned by a judge by mid-morning.

Wear This

Collared shirt, polo, blouse, or modest sweater
Dress slacks, chinos, khakis, or a knee-length skirt or dress
Closed-toe shoes you can walk in — loafers, flats, low heels, or plain neutral sneakers
A blazer, cardigan, or zip sweater (courthouses are kept cold year-round)
Minimal jewelry — less metal means a faster security line
Religious head coverings and religious dress, always permitted

Leave at Home

Shorts, cut-offs, and athletic shorts — the number one reason jurors get turned away
Tank tops, halter tops, crop tops, and anything see-through or low-cut
Flip-flops, slides, and shower shoes
Non-religious hats, hoods up, and sunglasses indoors
Clothing with profanity, slogans, political messages, or large logos
Ripped or stained clothing, pajama pants, and gym wear
Strong perfume or cologne

NYC · Nassau · Suffolk

Where You Report — and What to Expect at the Door

The dress code is the same in every New York courthouse; what changes is the building — the security line, how cold the room runs, and how long you wait. For anything specific, check your summons and the court’s website before you go.

Manhattan (New York County)

Civil jurors report to 60 Centre Street and criminal jurors to 100 Centre Street on Foley Square; morning security lines are long, so arrive early with minimal metal.

Brooklyn (Kings County)

Jury assembly is at 360 Adams Street near Borough Hall; the assembly rooms are famously cold, so a layer is not optional.

Queens

Jurors report to the Queens County Supreme Court complex at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica, steps from the Sutphin Blvd–Archer Ave subway and LIRR station.

The Bronx

Jury service runs out of the Bronx courthouse complex on the Grand Concourse (851 Grand Concourse), with a full security screening at the door.

Staten Island (Richmond County)

Jurors report to the Richmond County courthouse at 26 Central Avenue in St. George, near the ferry terminal — a smaller pool and shorter lines, same dress expectations.

Nassau County — Mineola

Nassau County Supreme Court is at 100 Supreme Court Drive in Mineola, a short walk from the Mineola LIRR station; parking fills early.

Suffolk County — Riverhead & Central Islip

Suffolk jurors report to the Cromarty Court Complex in Riverhead (210 Center Drive) or the Cohalan Court Complex in Central Islip (400 Carleton Avenue), depending on the summons; both are car-dependent.

Security screening

Every courthouse screens everyone with a magnetometer and bag X-ray. Weapons of any kind — including pocketknives and pepper spray — are confiscated. Belts, boots, and heavy jewelry slow you down.

Temperature

Assembly rooms and courtrooms are kept cold on purpose. A blazer or cardigan solves it and doubles as instant formality if you are called into a courtroom.

Long waits

Most jurors spend most of the day waiting to be called. Plan for a full day: something to read, a charger, and comfortable shoes matter more than anything else you decide that morning.

The Night Before

What to Bring to Jury Duty

Your summons (paper or the confirmation on your phone) and a government photo ID
A layer — blazer, cardigan, or sweater
Something to read or watch, headphones, and a phone charger; Wi-Fi and outlets vary by building
Any medication you need during the day
Snacks and a water bottle if your courthouse allows them in the assembly room (check the summons)
Your parking or transit plan — Mineola and the Suffolk complexes fill early; Foley Square and 360 Adams are subway-easy
Not a weapon of any kind (pocketknives, multi-tools, pepper spray) and not a large bag — everything goes through the X-ray

Jury Duty Dress Code

Frequently Asked Questions

The questions New York jurors actually ask the night before.

Can I wear jeans to jury duty in New York?

Usually, yes. New York state courts do not publish a rule banning jeans for jurors, and clean, dark, untorn jeans with a collared shirt or blouse clear security every day in NYC, Nassau, and Suffolk. Treat them as the floor: ripped or faded jeans draw comments from court officers, and once you are sent to a courtroom for jury selection, judges expect a step up. Federal jury duty is stricter — jurors are told to avoid jeans. Khakis or slacks are always the safer choice; your summons is the controlling source.

Can I wear sneakers to jury duty?

Plain, clean sneakers in a neutral color are acceptable for the assembly room and common on New York trial juries — you will walk a lot of courthouse hallway and stand each time the jury enters and leaves. Bright running shoes, basketball sneakers, and slides read as too casual. If you are seated on a trial, loafers, flats, or low heels are the safer choice, and closed toes are the rule of thumb in every courthouse.

Can I wear shorts to jury duty in New York?

No. Shorts are the item most likely to get a juror turned away at security or sent home to change in New York courthouses, and the federal courthouses enforce the same rule strictly. The same goes for tank tops, halter tops, and ripped clothing. Being sent home does not excuse your service — it usually means coming back on another day. Wear long pants, chinos, slacks, or a knee-length skirt or dress, even in July.

Can I wear a hoodie to jury duty?

A plain hoodie is usually tolerated in the assembly room, but it reads as casual, hoods must stay down inside the courthouse, and many judges expect you to remove it once you are in a courtroom for jury selection. Federal courthouses discourage sweatshirts and hoodies altogether. A cardigan, zip sweater, or blazer over a collared shirt does the same job in a cold room and looks appropriate the moment you are called. Skip anything with graphics, slogans, or large logos.

Can I wear my work uniform or scrubs to jury duty?

Generally yes, if you are coming straight from a shift. Court officers see clean scrubs and work uniforms in New York assembly rooms every day, and neither violates the business-casual expectation. Two cautions: bring a layer to cover large logos, and expect anything signaling law enforcement, security, or medical work to come up when attorneys question you during jury selection. Leave work tools and any weapon — including a pocketknife or pepper spray — at home; they are confiscated at security. Uniformed officers and first responders should check with the jury clerk on arrival.

Can I wear a religious head covering to jury duty in New York?

Yes. Hijabs, yarmulkes and kippahs, turbans, kufis, and other religious head coverings are permitted in every New York state and federal courthouse, including during jury service, and are protected by the First Amendment and the New York State Human Rights Law. You will not be asked to remove one at security or in the courtroom. Non-religious hats — baseball caps, beanies, fashion hats — are generally not allowed inside courtrooms; a court officer asking you to remove one is enforcing a uniform rule.

Court Attire Guides

What to Wear to Court in New York → National Court Attire Guide → Federal Jury Duty (S.D.N.Y. / E.D.N.Y.) →

Appearing as a party or witness rather than a juror? The standard is business formal, not business casual — the New York court attire guide covers every court type.

Free Consultation

Is Your Visit to Court About an Injury or a Job?

If your visit to court is about an injury or a job, our Long Island office offers a free consultation — no fee unless we win.

Call (516) 750-0595 Request Free Case Review

Serving Nassau, Suffolk, and all five boroughs of New York City.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Jury-service instructions vary by courthouse; your summons and the court’s website control. No attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this page or submitting a contact form.

What to Wear to Jury Duty in New York