Indiana Courthouse Dress Code & Attire Rules (2026)

Short answer: Clean, non-ripped dark jeans are generally accepted for jurors and traffic court visitors, but shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, and slides are prohibited across nearly all 11 courthouses in Indiana. Updated 2026-11-04

All 11 county courthouses in Indiana enforce judicial decorum dress codes: shorts, flip-flops, tank tops, halter tops, pajamas, and hats are prohibited in courtrooms. Judges and bailiffs may refuse entry or reset your hearing if you are improperly dressed. Many Indiana county courthouses (including Lake, Allen, St. Joseph, and Vanderburgh) enforce strict cell phone bans at Sheriff security checkpoints with no public storage lockers, though Marion County (Indianapolis Community Justice Campus) allows silenced phones.

County Courthouse	City	Courtroom dress code	Phone Lockers	Juror Parking
Marion County Marion County Courthouse (Indianapolis) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Marion County): "Business casual required. No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, pajamas, or clothing with offensive graphics. Hats must be removed upon entering courtrooms. Judges and bailiffs may deny entry or reschedule appearances for inappropriate attire."”	Indianapolis	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Lake County Lake County Courthouse (Crown Point) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Lake County): "Business casual required. No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, pajamas, or clothing with offensive graphics. Hats must be removed upon entering courtrooms. Judges and bailiffs may deny entry or reschedule appearances for inappropriate attire."”	Crown Point	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Allen County Allen County Courthouse (Fort Wayne) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Allen County): "Business casual required. No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, pajamas, or clothing with offensive graphics. Hats must be removed upon entering courtrooms. Judges and bailiffs may deny entry or reschedule appearances for inappropriate attire."”	Fort Wayne	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Hamilton County Hamilton County Courthouse (Noblesville) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Hamilton County): "Business casual required. No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, pajamas, or clothing with offensive graphics. Hats must be removed upon entering courtrooms. Judges and bailiffs may deny entry or reschedule appearances for inappropriate attire."”	Noblesville	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
St. Joseph County St. Joseph County Courthouse (South Bend) “Courtroom Decorum Order (St. Joseph County): "Business casual required. No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, pajamas, or clothing with offensive graphics. Hats must be removed upon entering courtrooms. Judges and bailiffs may deny entry or reschedule appearances for inappropriate attire."”	South Bend	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Elkhart County Elkhart County Courthouse (Goshen) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Elkhart County): "Business casual required. No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, pajamas, or clothing with offensive graphics. Hats must be removed upon entering courtrooms. Judges and bailiffs may deny entry or reschedule appearances for inappropriate attire."”	Goshen	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Tippecanoe County Tippecanoe County Courthouse (Lafayette) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Tippecanoe County): "Business casual required. No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, pajamas, or clothing with offensive graphics. Hats must be removed upon entering courtrooms. Judges and bailiffs may deny entry or reschedule appearances for inappropriate attire."”	Lafayette	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Hendricks County Hendricks County Courthouse (Danville) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Hendricks County): "Business casual required. No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, pajamas, or clothing with offensive graphics. Hats must be removed upon entering courtrooms. Judges and bailiffs may deny entry or reschedule appearances for inappropriate attire."”	Danville	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Vanderburgh County Vanderburgh County Courthouse (Evansville) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Vanderburgh County): "Business casual required. No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, pajamas, or clothing with offensive graphics. Hats must be removed upon entering courtrooms. Judges and bailiffs may deny entry or reschedule appearances for inappropriate attire."”	Evansville	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Porter County Porter County Courthouse (Valparaiso) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Porter County): "Business casual required. No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, pajamas, or clothing with offensive graphics. Hats must be removed upon entering courtrooms. Judges and bailiffs may deny entry or reschedule appearances for inappropriate attire."”	Valparaiso	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Johnson County Johnson County Courthouse (Franklin) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Johnson County): "Business casual required. No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, pajamas, or clothing with offensive graphics. Hats must be removed upon entering courtrooms. Judges and bailiffs may deny entry or reschedule appearances for inappropriate attire."”	Franklin	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated

Going to Court Without a Lawyer?

Skip the Security Line & Protect Your Record in IN

If you have a Traffic Ticket, Speeding/CDL Violation, DUI, Misdemeanor, or Family Court hearing in IN, a licensed local attorney can often appear in court on your behalf—saving you from missing work, risking a bench warrant, or taking points on your license.

Your Full Name Phone Number Email Address County State Case Type Upcoming Court Date Need

Brief Case Details (optional)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you wear jeans or shorts to court in Indiana?

Clean, non-ripped dark jeans are generally accepted for jurors and traffic court visitors, but shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, and slides are prohibited across nearly all 11 courthouses in Indiana.

How is this courthouse policy data verified?

We verify every county against official Court Administrative Orders (.gov), Jury Commissioner instructions, and Sheriff Court Security directives. Last verified 2026-11-04.