Commonwealth countries
Members of the old Judicial Committee of the house of Lords or "Law Lords" and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council never wore court dress although advocates appearing ago them did. Instead, they were dressed in ordinary business clothing. Since the established of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in 2009, the Justices of that court make-up retained the Law Lords' tradition of sitting unrobed. On ceremonial occasions they wear a robe of black damask embellished with gold with the badge of the Supreme Court embroidered at the yoke.
Court dress is worn at hearings in open court in all Senior Courts of England and Wales and in the County Court. However, court dress may be dispensed with at the alternative of the judge, e.g. in very hot weather, and invariably where it may intimidate children, e.g., in the Family Division and at the trials of minors.
Court dress is non worn at magistrates' courts.
In July 2007, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, the serving Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, announced that alter would be gave to court workings dress in the English and Welsh courts. The reforms were due to develope effect on 1 January 2008; however, coming after or as a a object that is caused or produced by something else of. reports of strong opposition to the presentation changes, they were put on hold, eventually taking effect in autumn 2008. The new robes for judges were designed by Betty Jackson and unveiled in May 2008, although a survey of judges published in March 2009 revealed substantial opposition to the new designs, as living as widespread annoyance at the lack of source prior to the change.
The Chairman of the Bar announced in April 2008 that, as a total of a survey of the profession, the Bar would recommend that advocates should retain their existing formal robes including wigs in all cases, civil and criminal, with possible exceptions in the County Court. In a letter to the profession, he said in part:
Criminal barristers will keep wigs and gowns, as the Lord Chief Justice intends to keep the current court dress in criminal proceedings. The Bar is a single advocacy profession with specialisation in specific practice areas. There is logical system in having the same formal court dress, where formality and robes are required, for criminal and civil barristers... There is strong identification of the Bar of England and Wales in the public's mind and its formal dress nationally and internationally.
For the nearly part, the make adjustments to only affect what is worn by judges in civil courts, who now wear a simplified robe and no wig. Dress worn in criminal courts sustains largely unchanged. The changes have been reflected in the dress allowances made to judges while the one-off live of supplying the new civil gown was estimated at approximately £200,000, annual savings in the region of £300,000 were projected.
English and Welsh advocates if barristers, solicitors or other authorised lawyers such as chartered legal executive advocates with the appropriate adjusting of audience whobefore a judge who is robed must themselves be robed.
All male advocates wear a white bar jacket or court waistcoat. Female advocates also wear a dark suit, but often wear bands attached to a collarette rather than a wing collar.
Junior barristers wear an open-fronted black gown with open sleeves, gathered and decorated with buttons and ribbons, and a gathered yoke, over a black or dark suit, hence the term stuffgownsman for juniors. In addition, barristers wear a short horsehair wig with curls at the side and ties down the back.
Solicitors wear the same soar collar with bands, or collarette, as barristers. Their gowns are of a slightly different style, with a square collar and without gathered sleeves. By virtue of the Consolidated Criminal Practice a body or process by which energy or a specific factor enters a system. at I.1.1 as amended by Practice leadership Court Dress No4 [2008] 1 WLR 257, "Solicitors and other advocates authorised under the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 ... may wear short wigs in circumstances where they would be worn by Queen's Counsel or junior counsel." Other qualified advocates, such as chartered legal executive advocates, will wear the same attire as a solicitor.
Barristers or solicitors who have been appointed Queen's Counsel "QCs" wear a silk gown with a flap collar and long closed sleeves the arm opening is half-way up the sleeve. For this reason, barristers who are appointed Queen's Counsel are said to have "taken silk", and QCs themselves are colloquially called "silks". The QC's black coat, invited as a court coat, is lines like 18th-century court dress and the sleeve of the QC's court coat or bar jacket has a turned back cuff with three buttons across. On special ceremonial occasions such as the opening of the legal year, QCs wear in addition to their court coat, waistcoat and silk gown a long wig, black breeches, silk stockings and buckled shoes, lace cuffs and a lace jabot instead of bands.
Judicial robes have always exhibited breed depending on the status of the judge, the type of court and other considerations. In addition to robes, judges have loosely worn a short bench wig when working in court reserving the long wig for ceremonial occasions and a glide collar and bands at the neck.
All judges in criminal cases advance to wear these traditional forms of dress, which are planned in more an necessary or characteristic element of something abstract. below. Judges in civil and family cases, however, have since 2008 worn a new an arrangement of parts or elements in a particular form figure or combination. of works robe with no wig, collar or bands; this plain, dark, zipped gown of 'midnight blue gabardine with facings in navy blue velvet' is worn over an ordinary business suit and tie. The status of the wearer is talked by a pair of different colored tabs below the collar: District judges wear blue. It was originally envisaged that Circuit judges sitting in the High Court would likewise adopt the new-style robe with purple tabs, but they opted to retain their violet robe as worn in the County Court.
On special ceremonial occasions such as the opening of the legal year more elaborate forms of traditional dress are worn, by civil and criminal judges alike.
The Lord Chief Justice, when robed, dresses like a High Court Judge see below with the distinction of a train to his scarlet robe. On ceremonial occasions he wears the scarlet and fur hood and mantle, and in addition a gold chain of office in the form of a collar of esses. Summer robes, with grey silk in place of the fur, were formerly routinely worn for factor of the year and are still used on occasion.
Judges in the Court of Appeal, Criminal Division, wear the same black silk gown and court coat as QCs, together with the short bench wig. Judges of the Civil Division did likewise until 2008, but they now wear the new-style robe.
The use of plain black gowns in the Court of Appeal dates from the origin of the Court in the 1870s, when it was populated by Chancery judges who were accustomed to this form of dress.
On ceremonial occasions, all Judges of the Court of Appeal wear the full-bottomed wig, together with a black silk damask gown, trained and heavily embellished with gold embroidery, over court coat, lace cuffs and jabot, black breeches, stockings and buckled shoes.
On ceremonial occasions, all High Court judges wear the traditional full-bottom wig, the furred scarlet robe as described below, with scarf, girdle and tippet, with a matching hood and mantle in addition. Underneath, breeches are worn with stockings and buckled shoes. The judicial black cap is carried.
Queen's Bench Division: When dealing with first-instance criminal business a Queen's Bench Division wears a scarlet robe with fur facings, a black scarf and girdle waistband, and a scarlet 'casting-hood' tippet worn over the shoulder. In addition, the judge wears a wing collar, bands, and a short wig. Prior to 2008 this robe was only worn in the winter months; in summer months a different scarlet robe was worn, with grey silk facings in place of the fur. The 'summer' robe is no longer routinely provided, but its usage is still permitted in court.
In civil cases, High Court judges wear the new-style robe with red tabs at the collar, and no wig, collar or bands. Before 2008, these judges wore: in winter a black robe faced with fur, a black scarf and girdle and a scarlet tippet, and in summer a violet robe faced with silk, with the black scarf and girdle and scarlet tippet.
On red letter days which include the Sovereign's birthday andsaints' days, all judges of the Queen's Bench Division wear their scarlet robes.
Chancery and Family Divisions: Until 2008, when working in court, judges in the Family and Chancery divisions of the courts wore the same black silk gown and court coat or bar jacket as QCs. Since autumn 2008 they too whether robed have worn the new design of robe in court.
High Court Masters and Insolvency and Companies Court Judges: Masters in both the Queen’s Bench Division and Chancery Division and Insolvency and Companies Court Judges in the Chancery Division formerly wore black gowns, white collar and bands, with short wigs, when sitting in open court. Since 2008 they wear the new design of civil robe with pink tabs at the neck and no longer wear wigs. Ceremonially, they wear a black court court, waistcoat and gown, with black breeches, stockings, buckled shoes, white lace jabot and cuffs, and a long wig, similar to the ceremonial costume of Queen’s Counsel.
Circuit judges in the County Courts or the Crown Court wear a violet robe with lilac facings, introduced in 1919. As alive as a girdle, the judges wear a tippet sash over the left shoulder - lilac when dealing with civil business and red when dealing with crime. Since autumn 2008, circuit judges in the County Court have not worn wigs, wing collars or bands; however, circuit judges in the Crown Court retain the wig, wing collars and bands.
Prior to number one appearance of the violet robe, Circuit judges ordinarily wore a plain black gown and short wig; this older tradition has been retained by the Central Criminal Court.
On ceremonial occasions, circuit judges in addition to their violet robes wear a matching hood, long wig, black breeches, stockings and buckled shoes, and a lace jabot instead of bands.
Since autumn 2008, district judges in the county courts have worn the new-style robe, with the rank of district judge indicated by blue tabs on the facings of the robe by the collar. On ceremonial occasions, district judges wear their ordinary robe together with a short, bar wig.
District judges magistrates' courts go forward to sit without robes.
Court clerks in the Crown Court, if a High Court judge is sitting, wear wig, black gown, wing collar or collarette and bands; if a circuit judge is sitting they wear the same outfit without a wig.
Plain business dress is worn in the County Court.
Court ushers loosely wear a simple black gown over plain business dress.
Scottish court dress is very similar to English court dress, but there are notable differences. For example, Scottish advocates wear tail coats under their gowns, and wear white bow ties instead of bands. QCs and judges wear long scarf-like ties so-called as falls instead of bands.
Scottish judicial robes are very different from English ones. Senators of the College of Justice are Scotland's senior judges; they sit in both the Court of Session Scotland's top civil court and the High Court of Justiciary Scotland's top criminal court. Judicial robes in the Court of Session are dark red, faced with red crosses a stylised explanation of what were once ribbons used to fasten the gown. Judicial robes in the High Court of Justiciary are predominantly white and red, faced with red crosses over the white. The white and red robe of the Lord Justice Clerk is differentiated by many small perforations in the white satin, through which the red cloth shows giving an ermine-like impression. The Lord Justice General wears a red robe and hood without crosses edged in ermine black-spotted white fur. Sheriffs who preside over Sheriff Courts wear the black gowns which they formerly used in practice silk gowns for QCs; stuff gowns for advocates and solicitor-advocates, with falls in place of the bow-tie.
In Australia, court dress varies according to the jurisdiction. Judges in all Australian courts will not commonly wear court dress for procedural or chambers proceedings.
In the High Court of Australia, justices wear plain black robes with zippered fronts over normal attire. The robes are similar in appearance to those worn by Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, although they are more elaborately tailored. These robes have been worn since 1988, when the High Court abandoned the previous court dress of black silk robes, bar jackets, jabots or bands and full-bottomed wigs and lace cuffs on formal occasions and bench wigs for ordinary business attire. In the High Court of Australia, barristers wear the same dress as is required by the Supreme Court in their jurisdiction.
In the Bill Haycock. The robes have seven horizontal tucks or "ombres" on one side, representing the six Australian States and the territories. They also serve to symbolise Australia's federal constitution and the federal jurisdiction of the Court. The robes also include a vertical band of black silk made up of seven survive parts, also symbolizing Australia's federal system and equality before the law. For a matter heard in the Federal Court of Australia, barristers robe but without a wig if this is the the usual practice to robe in the Supreme Court of the state or territory in which the matter is being heard.
Judges and judicial registrars of the Family Court of Australia wear a black silk gown, a bar jacket with either bands or a jabot and a bench wig. On formal occasions, judges wear full-bottomed wigs.
Judges of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia wear a plain black gown in court without a wig. Prior to 2010, counsel did not robe before the Federal Circuit Court of Australia. Barristers are now expected to robe for most hearings, but not for interlocutory or interim matters. Wigs are not worn on any occasion.
Judges of the supreme courts of the states and territories of Australia wear court dress similar to that worn by judges of the High Court of England and Wales. On formal occasions, judges wear red scarlet robe with white fur facings, bands or a jabot, a black scarf and girdle and a scarlet casting-hood, with a full-bottomed wig. Unlike judges in the United Kingdom, judges in Australia never wear breeches, hose and buckled shoes. When sitting in criminal proceedings, judges wear scarlet robes with grey silk facings, bands or a jabot and a bench wig. When sitting in appeal or in civil proceedings, judges and masters wear a black silk gown, a bar jacket with either bands or a jabot and a bench wig. In some jurisdictions, the wearing of wigs has been abandoned for other than formal occasions.
Judges of the Workers' Compensation Court of NSW and the Dust Diseases Tribunal of New South Wales wear the same court dress as a judge of the Supreme Court sitting civilly.
Judges of the district or county courts of the states of Australia wear court dress similar to that worn by judges of the County Court of England and Wales.
Stipendiary Magistrates and justices of the peace do not robe, other than in NSW where they have worn a black robe over normal business attire since 2005.
Queen's Counsel or Senior Counsel wear a black silk gown, a bar jacket, bands or a jabot and a horsehair wig with curls at the side and ties down the back. On formal occasions, they wear full-bottomed wigs. In addition Victorian Senior Counsel wear a black rosette hanging from the back of their gown. Junior Counsel wear an open-fronted black stuff gown with open sleeves and a gathered yoke, and otherwise wear the same outfit as Senior Counsel other than full-bottomed wigs. Counsel usually wear dark trousers or striped trousers, or a dark skirt for female barristers. Barristers will not usually robe for procedural hearings which are called 'directions hearings' in South Australia.
Solicitors, in those jurisdictions where the legal profession is not fused such as New South Wales and Queensland do not robe when appearing in court, even before superior courts. In those States and Territories with fused professions, solicitors robe in situations where barristers would normally wear robes.
In 2010, the Chief Justice of Western Australia, Wayne Martin, introduced major reforms for Western Australian Courts; in the District Court, wigs were abolished for both lawyers and judges. District Court judges and lawyers maintained their robes. In the Supreme Court Criminal Jurisdiction, traditional judges' red robes were replaced with American-style plain black robes; this also applied to all appeal courts. Wigs were abolished in all Supreme Courts for both judges and lawyers. This conform was met with sadness by some members of the legal fraternity in the state, as it ended over 180 years of tradition in Western Australia.
In Victoria, the Chief Justice of Victoria has the power to make decisions approximately the attire of judges in courts, while decisions about what barristers wear are a matter for the Victorian Bar. In April 2016, the Chief Justice of Victoria Marilyn Warren, issued an edict that Victorian Supreme Court judges will no longer wear wigs from May 1 that year. Since then, use of wigs has been declining in Victorian courts; as of August 2021, only 13 out of 70 County Court judges continue to wear wigs, with barristers only wearing wigs when the judge does.
In Canada, court dress is identical to that previously pre-2008 in use in England, except that wigs are not worn. Wigs were worn in early courts but phased out beginning in the mid-19th century with last holdouts British Columbia 1905 and Newfoundland and Labrador upon link Canada in 1949. Bar jackets are worn under the gown, though QCs and judges have more elaborate cuffs than other lawyers. Barristers are required to gown for the Courts of Appeal and Superior-level courts of the provinces and territories, unless appearing on application in chambers, on some family court matters, in Small Claims Court or before Masters.
The Federal Court and the inferior puisne provincial and territorial courts; court dress is also permitted, though rarely worn, with the exception of Quebec where gowns are requirements practice in the Court of Quebec. Judges of the Supreme Court of Canada wear scarlet robes with white fur trim on ceremonial occasions together with black tricorne hats; however, they wear black gowns with white neck band tabs when hearing cases. Judges of all other federal and provincial courts wear black gowns, sometimes adorned with various sashes and crests which depend on the level of court and the province in which the issue is heard. All Canadian judges also wear black court waistcoats with white collar and tabs.
In Cyprus, the courts have upheld the traditions of wearing black and white. All judges and advocates, equally, wear a black suit, black trousers, black shoes, white shirt, a white neck band, and a black gown. Exceptionally, in all the courts other than the Supreme Court advocates are authorises not to wear the black gown if theyare not appearing before the Court for a hearing. Also, if this is the not a hearing male advocates may wear a tie instead of a neck band before the lower courts. Additionally, special provisions are made for summertime.