In chapter seventeen, Sheriff Tate is the first person to take the witness stand to testify in the Tom Robinson trial. Before Sheriff Tate answers any of Mr. Gilmer's questions, Scout mentions that he dressed for the occasion. Instead of wearing his typical lumber jacket, high boots, and bullet-studded belt, Heck Tate wears a regular business suit as he sits at the witness stand. After witnessing Sheriff Tate in an ordinary business suit, Scout mentions that he ceased to terrify her. Heck Tate's attire indicates that he believes this trial is important and shows respect to the justice system by taking the proceedings seriously. Sheriff Tate proceeds to give an honest, straightforward testimony and does not attempt to fabricate any part of his story. When Atticus questions Sheriff Tate, he testifies that Mayella was wounded predominantly on the right side of her face, which is evidence that Atticus uses to suggest Bob Ewell was Mayella's perpetrator.

Heck Tate, the sheriff, puts more care than normal into his outfit to wear on the day of the trial. Normally, his clothes are very informal and unpolished. His typical outfit consists of "high boots, [a] lumber jacket, and [a] bullet-studded belt" (Chapter 17). When Scout sees Mr. Tate dressed in "an ordinary business suit," she finds him more approachable than he ever had been before. Previously, Mr. Tate frightened her. Scout thinks Mr. Tate's business suit makes him seem more ordinary. For once, he looks like any other man in Maycomb. He no longer looks threatening to Scout without his belt full of bullets.

The fact that Mr. Tate dresses up in a suit shows how important he thinks the trial is. Even though he is only wearing a simple business suit, it is a vast difference from his normal attire.