Going to court? Leave your flip flops, sunglasses and dirty T-shirt at home.

The judges of the Butler County Court of Common Pleas have adopted a dress code.

“It’s about respect,” said Judge Timothy McCune, who initiated the decorum policy.

McCune, who presides over criminal court proceedings, said our culture has become more casual. That attitude has impacted the clothing choices of the people who appear in front of him.

But some people take the lax attitude to extremes, dressing with excessive skin showing, in T-shirts with slogans about illegal drugs or in dirty clothing. All those items are prohibited in court under the new rule.

“Maybe I’m old fashioned, but that just isn’t right in my opinion,” McCune said. “I’m not asking anybody to go out and buy a $500 suit. I just want people to show respect for the seriousness of why we are all here.”

Also forbid are tank tops and tube tops, sports jerseys and clothing that displays obscene or racists messages. A complete list of forbidden fashion is posted at the entrance of each courtroom.

Attorneys are asked to relay this message to their clients in advance.

The new policy is predicated by a July 1 Code of Judicial Conduct directive by the state’s Supreme Court.