Judicial dress

Creol1 · 22-09-2020 4:18pm #1

Has there been a change in the code for judicial dress recently? Was in court and the judges seem to be wearing normal business attire rather than robes. I remember when compulsory wigs were done away with a few years ago there was quite a bit of coverage but there doesn't seem to be anything in the media suggesting any recent change.

Foweva Awone · 22-09-2020 4:23pm

Creol1 wrote: »

Has there been a change in the code for judicial dress recently? Was in court and the judges seem to be wearing normal business attire rather than robes. I remember when compulsory wigs were done away with a few years ago there was quite a bit of coverage but there doesn't seem to be anything in the media suggesting any recent change.

Was it children's court or family court by any chance? I don't think they wear the robes and wigs etc.

hullaballoo · 22-09-2020 4:57pm

There is no formal court dress during "vacation" and this applies to all courts, which can be a bit confusing because not all courts take these "vacations".

Basically, during certain periods in the year when the High Court does not normally sit (set out in the Terms and Sittings section of courts.ie), judges and barristers do not wear the formal court dress. So, they show up dressed in slightly less old fashioned way but still not quite modern business attire. The suits are still required to be dark in colour and shirts/ties appropriate to the gravity of a court room.

I would say that explains why you might have seen no robes etc. if it was very recent as the long vacation period is August and September (Easter, Whitsun and Christmas are also times where this strange rule applies).

As above, though, family and children's courts have slightly more relaxed attire throughout the year.

Creol1 · 22-09-2020 8:44pm

hullaballoo wrote: »

There is no formal court dress during "vacation" and this applies to all courts, which can be a bit confusing because not all courts take these "vacations".

Basically, during certain periods in the year when the High Court does not normally sit (set out in the Terms and Sittings section of courts.ie), judges and barristers do not wear the formal court dress. So, they show up dressed in slightly less old fashioned way but still not quite modern business attire. The suits are still required to be dark in colour and shirts/ties appropriate to the gravity of a court room.

I would say that explains why you might have seen no robes etc. if it was very recent as the long vacation period is August and September (Easter, Whitsun and Christmas are also times where this strange rule applies).

As above, though, family and children's courts have slightly more relaxed attire throughout the year.

That explains it! I was scratching my head.

Grizzly 45 · 28-09-2020 12:37am

Will the learned judges and people of our judiciary system and courts ever get over their grieving for good Queen Anne? Departed these last 313 years from this life? That's where wearing black gowns originated from in our courts. Or so I'm led to believe?:)

hullaballoo · 28-09-2020 8:06am

It's far fresher a wound I'm afraid, it was adopted following the death of Prince Albert. :pac:

Samuel T. Cogley · 28-09-2020 10:24pm

Capes...

thenightman · 28-09-2020 10:29pm

I've seen in some sittings of the evening court that a judge will stroll in the main entrance to the court dressed in shirt and tie, quickly deal with whatever is in front of them and stroll back out again never creasing a robe or even entering the ante room!

Judicial dress

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