The lawyer for Bundy son Ammon Bundy argued in court Tuesday that his client has the right to wear cowboy boots when facing a jury in his upcoming trial.

Bundy, who was arrested with his father Cliven Bundy after seizing control and occupying Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, was informed by the U.S. Marshals that he wouldn’t be able to wear certain articles of clothing at his trial. Among the banned clothing: “Ties, Bows, Belts, Handkerchiefs, Cuff Links, Steel toe boots/shoes, Shoe laces, Shirt tie down straps, Safety pins, [and] Shirt pocket pen protectors.”

The banned items could all be used as improvised weapons to try to escape custody. Bundy agreed not to wear steel toe boots, but was later informed at a hearing that he could not wear any boots, as they could interfere with his leg shackles.

In a written motion, Bundy’s attorney J. Morgan Philpot argued that banning the boots could prejudice a jury. “We would prefer our clients not look like disheveled slackers in front of the jury,” he said. “These men are cowboys, and given that the jury will be assessing their authenticity and credibility, they should be able to present themselves to the jury in that manner.”

Meanwhile, Ammon’s brother Ryan Bundy offered a unique defense for why the charges he faces for aiding and abetting his family members should be dropped. The Bible, he argued, states that “A man will be accountable for his own sins and not that of another.”

“Mr. Bundy, the Biblical standards don’t apply,” responded the judge.

[Image via screengrab]

——

>>Follow Alex Griswold (@HashtagGriswold) on Twitter

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]