A panel of judges and lawyers has raised concerns about lax dress codes for women lawyers at a meeting of the 7th Circuit Bar Association in Indiannapolis.

The panel criticized some female lawyers for wearing sexy and revealing clothing in the courtroom. Such behaviour, they say, distracts everyone from the quality of the lawyers’ arguments.

One judge criticized a lawyer who appeared in court wearing a velour track suit that looked as if she was “on her way home from the gym.”

Salon.com also covered the highlights of the panel discussion:

Judge Michael P. McCuskey said he’s seen women in court wearing “skirts so short that there’s no way they can sit down, and blouses so short there’s no way the judges wouldn’t look.” Judge Benjamin Goldgar concurred by sharing his wish that he could tell certain female lawyers: “I’d really like to pay attention to your argument” (but your breasts are getting in the way).

According to Judge McCuskey, the problem starts in law school and ought to be dealt with there.

Obviously, this is less of a problem in Canada, where male and female lawyers alike are expected to wear gowns at most levels of court.  However, at lower court levels and at most tribunals, lawyers are allowed to wear business casual clothing.

For men, business casual means a shirt, tie, and business suit. But what it means for women is still the subject of some interpretation. Does it include a blouse with three buttons undone? How long does a skirt have to be before it qualifies as business casual?

We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.