Racist Defendant Prefers Jail Uniform
by TChris
Lawyers who represent jailed defendants customarily make sure that their clients are wearing "street clothes," not a jail uniform, when they appear in front of a jury. Allowing the jury to see a defendant in jail garb sends the wrong message: if he's already in jail, he must be guilty.
White supremacist Matt Hale, who has a law degree but isn't licensed to practice, made an odd strategic decision in his own trial: he's going to wear his bright orange jail jumpsuit. Hale is charged with soliciting the murder of a federal judge, and jury selection is underway. Although his trial judge warned him that wearing a jail uniform doesn't make a good impression on potential jurors, Hale chose to disregard that advice. Maybe he thinks he looks good in orange.
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