From: gerard.rothschild@talk21.com
To: Barbara Legate <blegate@legate.ca>
obligations@uwo.ca
Date: 22/06/2010 12:39:55 UTC
Subject: Re: question re UK protocol
In England and Wales:
 
1. The Lord Chief Justice announced the proposed changes to judicial dress in July 2007: see http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article2064566.ece
 
2. Barristers were then consulted on whether they wanted to change their dress but favoured tradition: see http://www.barcouncil.org.uk/news/press/546.html.
 
3. The "new" rules for barristers' dress differ between courts (wigs and/or gowns are not always worn) and are summarised at: http://www.barcouncil.org.uk/assets/documents/Court%20Dress%20-%20Chairmans%20Letter%20310708.pdf
Even before these changes and the creation of the Supreme Court last October, the Law Lords wore business suits (without wigs) when hearing appeals in the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords.
 

 
From: Barbara Legate <blegate@legate.ca>
To: obligations@uwo.ca
Sent: Tuesday, 22 June, 2010 13:22:35
Subject: question re UK protocol

Colleagues

I just returned from a visit to the “other” London ( I am from London Ontario ). I made a pilgrimage to the Superior Court and the SCUK (whoever came up with that acronym – is it really the Supreme Court of the UK ?) and took the obligatory photos of Old Bailey Road . I was surprised to see that my colleagues gown ( as I do) and wear a wig ( happily I do not) but the judges were not gowned; they wore office suits. Is this new? Why are barristers hanging on to the tradition but the judiciary are not? I hope we do not get rid of the gown here, and certainly hope that judges continue to wear them. If anyone understands the rationale, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Many thanks.

Barb

 

 

Barbara Legate

 

blegate@legate.ca

 

 

Best Lawyers

 

 

Legate & Associates

 

 

Please visit us at: www.legate.ca

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Fax: 519-672-6689

 

 

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