Maryland 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 10 courthouses in Maryland. Updated 2026-11-04

All 10 county courthouses in Maryland 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. Under Maryland Rule 16-208, cell phones are permitted in Maryland Circuit and District Courthouses unless a local administrative judge restricts a high-security facility (such as Baltimore City Mitchell Courthouse annexes), where phone rules and lockers apply.

County Courthouse	City	Courtroom dress code	Phone Lockers	Juror Parking
Montgomery County Montgomery County Courthouse (Rockville) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Montgomery 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."”	Rockville	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Prince Georges County Prince Georges County Courthouse (Upper Marlboro) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Prince Georges 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."”	Upper Marlboro	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Baltimore County Baltimore County Courthouse (Towson) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Baltimore 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."”	Towson	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Anne Arundel County Anne Arundel County Courthouse (Annapolis) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Anne Arundel 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."”	Annapolis	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Baltimore City Baltimore City Courthouse (Baltimore) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Baltimore City): "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."”	Baltimore	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Howard County Howard County Courthouse (Ellicott City) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Howard 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."”	Ellicott City	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Frederick County Frederick County Courthouse (Frederick) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Frederick 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."”	Frederick	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Harford County Harford County Courthouse (Bel Air) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Harford 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."”	Bel Air	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Carroll County Carroll County Courthouse (Westminster) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Carroll 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."”	Westminster	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Charles County Charles County Courthouse (La Plata) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Charles 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."”	La Plata	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you wear jeans or shorts to court in Maryland?

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 10 courthouses in Maryland.

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.