People v. Roman

At the opening of his trial defendant’s counsel requested that defendant be permitted to wear his own street clothing as is usual during the trial. The Court refused "this request and defendant was obliged to appear during his trial wearing 'distinctive prison attire, not otherwise described in the record. The District Attorney concedes that the People can *979advance no reason why it was necessary to try this defendant in prison uniform.

A defendant is presumed innocent and he is entitled tp appear in court with the dignity and the self-respect of a free and innocent man. To forbid him to wear…