New Jersey 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 15 courthouses in New Jersey. Updated 2026-11-04

All 15 county courthouses in New Jersey 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. New Jersey Superior Court Vicinages allow visitors, litigants, and jurors to bring cell phones into the courthouse under NJ Supreme Court Directive, provided phones remain silent in courtrooms.

County Courthouse	City	Courtroom dress code	Phone Lockers	Juror Parking
Bergen County Bergen County Courthouse (Hackensack) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Bergen 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."”	Hackensack	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Middlesex County Middlesex County Courthouse (New Brunswick) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Middlesex 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."”	New Brunswick	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Essex County Essex County Courthouse (Newark) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Essex 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."”	Newark	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Hudson County Hudson County Courthouse (Jersey City) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Hudson 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."”	Jersey City	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Ocean County Ocean County Courthouse (Toms River) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Ocean 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."”	Toms River	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Monmouth County Monmouth County Courthouse (Freehold) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Monmouth 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."”	Freehold	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Union County Union County Courthouse (Elizabeth) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Union 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."”	Elizabeth	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Camden County Camden County Courthouse (Camden) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Camden 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."”	Camden	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Morris County Morris County Courthouse (Morristown) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Morris 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."”	Morristown	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Passaic County Passaic County Courthouse (Paterson) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Passaic 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."”	Paterson	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Burlington County Burlington County Courthouse (Mount Holly) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Burlington 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."”	Mount Holly	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Mercer County Mercer County Courthouse (Trenton) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Mercer 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."”	Trenton	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Somerset County Somerset County Courthouse (Somerville) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Somerset 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."”	Somerville	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Gloucester County Gloucester County Courthouse (Woodbury) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Gloucester 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."”	Woodbury	Strict decorum: No shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, or hats	No lockers	Free Validated
Atlantic County Atlantic County Courthouse (Mays Landing) “Courtroom Decorum Order (Atlantic 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."”	Mays Landing	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 New Jersey?

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 15 courthouses in New Jersey.

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.