In Trinidad and Tobago, there exists an unusual and little-known guideline—more often whispered about than officially documented—that jurors are discouraged from wearing red while serving on a jury. This rule is steeped in local history and cultural customs, where the color red has traditionally been associated with strong emotions such as passion, anger, and even superstition related to bad luck in formal settings. Some locals suggest that early colonial court practices adopted this guideline to maintain an atmosphere of calm and impartiality in the courtroom. It is said that jurors wearing red could unduly influence their peers or the proceedings by evoking emotional responses, potentially disrupting the solemnity of legal deliberations. While this is not explicitly written into modern legal codes and may verge more on old custom than formal law, the notion still circulates among longtime court staff and community members, making it a fascinating example of how history and local culture can inform courtroom decorum in ways that seem unusual to outsiders.
Source / verification note
Based on local testimonies and archival anecdotes; no formal statute found confirming this practice.