Dress to impress

I've never had to go to court for anything other than jury duty, but it's always been my understanding that if you have to appear before a judge—especially as a defendant—you want to dress to make a good impression. I guess that idea is lost on some people:

Two Texas judges, struck by how people dress these days, have posted signs outside their Austin courtrooms advising defendants what not to wear.

District Judges Melissa Goodwin and Brenda Kennedy have had first-hand experience with wardrobe failures in their courtrooms, the Austin American-Statesman reported Monday.

Goodwin says she was convinced a dress code was needed when a female defendant appeared before her wearing a skirt that revealed her underwear -- from the bottom.

As for Kennedy, she says she knew rules were in order after a male defendant's low-slung pants fell to the floor as he walked away.

"It's gotten progressively worse the last two years," Kennedy told the American-Statesman. "I don't know if there's no common sense left, or if people just don't care anymore."

You know, Judge Kennedy, if I had to guess, I'd say it's probably a little bit of both. No, scratch that. A lot of both.