*/
Shelley White sets out the revised guidance on court attire.
Of the many issues of import which have faced the Bar over the last 18 months the question of court dress has perhaps received disproportionate attention.
In July 2007, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, then Lord Chief Justice, announced that civil judges would swap traditional court dress for a continental style gown. He then sought the views of the Bar regarding court attire.
The extensive consultation by the Bar Council, which included inviting the views of every barrister in the country, illustrated the great variety and strength of feeling on the topic. The overwhelming majority responded in favour of retaining traditional court dress and it is following the Bar’s wish to retain the status quo that the Revised Guidance on Court Dress was issued by Desmond Browne QC, the Chairman of the Bar on 2 June 2009 (for further information visit:
www.barcouncil.org.uk/assets/documents/Court%20Dress20020609.pdf).
Need for certainty
Despite efforts to keep revision to a minimum there will inevitably be some changes. In some cases there was no established practice prior to the guidance being issued; whether hearings were robed or not simply depended on the views of the particular judge. In light of that, it was an overwhelming theme of barristers’ responses that they wanted clarity as to what to wear. The Revised Guidance is therefore intended to provide real benefit of certainty.
Any new guidance takes time to settle in, however should there be any continuing concerns, please send them to janbye@barcouncil.org.uk and they will be passed to the relevant Committee for consideration.
Please note: there may be minor adjustments to the Revised Guidance and they will be posted on the Bar Council website: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Shelley White is a barrister at New Square Chambers and a member of the Bar Council’s Legal Services Committee and Young Bar Committee.
Of the many issues of import which have faced the Bar over the last 18 months the question of court dress has perhaps received disproportionate attention.
In July 2007, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, then Lord Chief Justice, announced that civil judges would swap traditional court dress for a continental style gown. He then sought the views of the Bar regarding court attire.
The extensive consultation by the Bar Council, which included inviting the views of every barrister in the country, illustrated the great variety and strength of feeling on the topic. The overwhelming majority responded in favour of retaining traditional court dress and it is following the Bar’s wish to retain the status quo that the Revised Guidance on Court Dress was issued by Desmond Browne QC, the Chairman of the Bar on 2 June 2009 (for further information visit:
www.barcouncil.org.uk/assets/documents/Court%20Dress20020609.pdf).
Need for certainty
Despite efforts to keep revision to a minimum there will inevitably be some changes. In some cases there was no established practice prior to the guidance being issued; whether hearings were robed or not simply depended on the views of the particular judge. In light of that, it was an overwhelming theme of barristers’ responses that they wanted clarity as to what to wear. The Revised Guidance is therefore intended to provide real benefit of certainty.
Any new guidance takes time to settle in, however should there be any continuing concerns, please send them to janbye@barcouncil.org.uk and they will be passed to the relevant Committee for consideration.
Please note: there may be minor adjustments to the Revised Guidance and they will be posted on the Bar Council website: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Shelley White is a barrister at New Square Chambers and a member of the Bar Council’s Legal Services Committee and Young Bar Committee.
Shelley White sets out the revised guidance on court attire.
Chair of the Bar reports back
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, outlines the drug and alcohol testing options available for family law professionals, and how a new, free guide can help identify the most appropriate testing method for each specific case
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the latest ONS data on drug misuse and its implications for toxicology testing in family law cases
The odds of success are as unforgiving as ever, but ambition clearly isn’t in short supply. David Wurtzel’s annual deep‑dive into the competition cohort shows who’s entering, who’s thriving and the trends that will define the next wave
Where to start and where to find help? Monisha Shah, Chair of the King’s Counsel Selection Panel, provides an overview of the silk selection process, debunking some myths along the way
Do chatbot providers owe a duty of care for negligent misstatements? Jasper Wong suggests that the principles applicable to humans should apply equally to machines
With gender earnings inequality at the Bar getting worse, not better, Judith Ayling KC discusses concrete solutions and collective action – including steps taken by the Personal Injuries Bar Association
There is no typical day in the life as a Supreme Court judicial assistant, says Josephine Gillingwater, and that’s what makes the role so enjoyably diverse
