Mr Justice StarTrek….
The Daily Mail reports that 300 years of tradition are about to be thrown away as the Judges of England & Wales bring themselves up to date with new robes designed by Betty Jackson. Captain Luc Picard, commander of The USS Enterprise, has not been approached by Jack “The Lad Chancellor” Straw to be a High Court judge - but may well be interested in acquiring a ‘people’s version’ of these robes for private recreational purposes.
So…. there we are. Full story in the Daily Mail (Link above) if you think I may have had too much juice this evening.
Hat Tip to Iolis, a poster on the InsiteLaw Discussion Board, for alerting me to this story.
Update: And a view from the fashion correspondent of The Guardian….
“Look at this poor man: instead of appearing imperious, the lord chief justice, Lord Phillips, now just looks like the man who sells you tickets for the Star Trek Experience at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. And judging from his expression, he knows it.”
Filed under: Charon
I’m not sure about the red bands. Why red, and not purple or blue?
Perhaps red for ‘Red judges.”.. given red was used for High Court judges ?
Not sure about the gowns at all. What will the Bar be wearing if the judges go for this kit?
The Bar wants to retain 18th century kit.
I don’t understand one thing - if people want to get rid of this old wig+gown tradition so much, then why create substitutes and not just scrap everything?..
Beats me…. I quite like the current kit…. but, there again, I don’t have to go to work dressed up in it.
A number of my friends at the Bar like the traditional kit… others find the wig wearing a bit uncomfortable at times.
Judges do, I suppose, need to look like judges in the criminal courts - hence the desire to retain wigs.
Can’t quite see why robes are necessary in civil rpoceedings. The Law Lords manage to get on without court dress, gowns and wigs.
Tradition is tradition, I suppose. I do not, personally, hold strong views on this one way or the other.
I think he looks like an utter UTTER Plank , and far worse than he would ever do when regaled in his full and traditional get up.
What IS it with the courts wanting to “Get Down with the People”? these days?
Based on this ridiculous clothing “endeavour” ( which isnt immediately forthcoming ANYWAY and, as I am given to understand it only applies to the Civil Courts) I think it pretty likely that soon the Law Lords will be compelled to Rap their Speeches with a spot of drum and bass in the background……..
Doesn’t he look a muppet? New Labour - New Bloody Stupid Gowns.
I love the bit of red down the front. I can’t help thinking it should light up and flash as the wearer speaks
To be honest I’d prefer my Judge to look like this
http://estb.msn.com/i/9D/FE1629AFF9EC29923D360A064835C.jpg
Here are some photos of the judges’ robes from around the world: http://www.filibustercartoons.com/judges.htm
House,
Hrm sadly shell suits are seriously under represented in my humble opinion
[...] Charon QC points out the new robes for judges in England, which are currently being compared with Star Trek uniforms. [...]
[...] up… this was the week when Lord Phillips had his debut as a model for the new judicial robes. I covered it earlier in the week. I also defended the possibly indefensible, by writing about retired judge Gerald Butler QC’s [...]