Anonymous said on May 09, 2005  

My first capital trial (in southern Pennsylvania--I was the law clerk) both the prosecutor and the PD (lead attorneys were both women, as was the PD's second) wore a mix of pant suits and skirted suits through the whole trial, but notably, it was the only time I ever saw that particular prosecutor in heels. For the sentencing phase (defendant got life), she wore strange laceless tennis shoes with her pant suits.

Here in Chicago, both sides tend to wear full suits.

 Mister DA said on May 09, 2005  

Up here we have the most amazing mix of men's styles you could ever want. The classic suit, mostly two but some three-piece, is always seen in large numbers, but lots of lots of sport coat/blazer and slacks combos as well. The colors tend to be Navy and dark grey with the occaional brown or glenplaid for the suits. For the jacket and slacks combo, the sky's the limit as long as the color can at least arguably be found in nature. Sweters under sport coats are fine, even if without a tie, as long as it's motion day or some other, less serious occasion.

Women, as always, have much more lattitude. Skirted and slacks suits tend to dominate on any given day, but skirt and sweater and slacks and sweater sets are popular, too. Some older ladies wear dresses, sometimes with a jacket. One older woman seems to be stuck in those godawful 70s era men's-suits-tailored-for-women, complete with a man's tie, bow or long, as the case may be.