# Is it actually required to dress like a cartoon character to practice before English courts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 18, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771 "2017-12-18T16:41:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2017, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/21 "2017-12-18T22:33:43Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > If you wear beach shorts, a Hawaiian short, and flip flops to an American court, the _judge_ is going to perceive this as disrespect. [Better to wear a suit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrZrpIgutwY&t=1m32s). ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/22 "2017-12-19T00:23:59Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > The whole wig thing is gradually being phased out. Supreme Court justices wear no legal dress anyway… This is because the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary (aka the Law Lords) didn’t wear any special costume because they weren’t actually judges; they were a committee of specially appointed peers exercising the judicial functions of the House of Lords. When the UK Supreme Court was created the judges (the 1st batch being former Law Lords) kept up the tradition rather than design new robes. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/23 "2017-12-19T00:29:33Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > This is because the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary (aka the Law Lords) didn’t wear any special costume because they weren’t actually judges; they were a committee of specially appointed peers exercising the judicial functions of the House of Lords. Not since 1876 they weren’t. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/24 "2017-12-19T01:22:13Z")
In Scottish courts, they probably wear tartan wigs. None of these effete white ones for them. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/25 "2017-12-19T01:43:06Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > Can you name a mighty warrior who fought in a kilt? No, because if I did, one would pop out and strangle me with a sheep intestine. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/26 "2017-12-19T02:14:18Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > [Obligatory clip.](https://youtu.be/1cYgyqA_7BM) > > > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > > > [Better to wear a suit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrZrpIgutwY&t=1m32s). Beatcha’ to it. Plus my clip is longer for full effect. ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/27 "2017-12-19T02:16:01Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > I kind of think a ‘mighty warrior’ needs to be armed and fight the enemy. So I guess whether you consider him to count as one would depend on whether you think the bagpipes are a weapon… You land on the beaches of normandy holding nothing but a set of bag pipes and a pocket knife while the guy at the other end has nice things like MG42’s and we can discuss what is or isn’t mighty ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/28 "2017-12-19T02:52:17Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > The whole wig thing is gradually being phased out. Supreme Court justices wear no legal dress anyway and the relaxed dress code also applies to advocates appearing before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Judges and lawyers appearing in criminal courts still wear traditional wigs and gowns but they can be dispensed with in cases involving children. And that’s the thing: as funny as these wigs and gowns might look on TV, they are actually pretty intimidating in reality and no doubt frequently make witnesses or the defendant flustered. Furthermore, on TV it’s a good thing if a witness is spooked because then the truth comes out, but in real life it’s more likely to make a truthful witness come across as confused. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/29 "2017-12-19T02:55:21Z")
And a note from Canada: 1. Provincial Court - Business suit. 2. Queen’s Bench (or equivalent): business suit for chambers; gown, waistcoat & tabs (but no wig) for trials. 3. Court of Appeal: business suit for chambers; gown etc. for appeals. 4. Supreme Court of Canada: gown, etc. for appeals. Special _faux_-silk gown and waistcoat with cuffs if you have a QC. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/30 "2017-12-19T03:16:33Z")
I like Canada because your Supreme Court dresses like actual Santa Clauses. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/31 "2017-12-19T05:42:26Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Bagpipes are considered an instrument of war… > [@snfaulkner](#): > > …crime. Apparently it’s a facet of bagpipe history, that the Irish gave the Scots the bagpipes around 600AD and the Scots still haven’t caught on to the joke. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/32 "2017-12-19T06:19:44Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > Can you name a mighty warrior who fought in a kilt? Mel Gibson. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/33 "2017-12-19T06:26:45Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I like Canada because your Supreme Court dresses like actual Santa Clauses. There Court dress is based off the High Court of [England and Wales judges Court dress](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/12/08/article-0-0F17FF4E00000578-38_634x427.jpg). The colour red has been linked with the senior judiciary in England and later British colonies for centuries. For[example in Kenya](https://www.google.com.pk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwiN8JXIt5XYAhUDyqQKHUQ0DnMQjxwIAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.judiciary.go.ke%2Fportal%2Fblog%2Fpost%2Fjudges-mwilu-and-lenaola-sworn-in-as-dcj-and-supreme-court-judge-respectively&psig=AOvVaw2dMOQc-x0c6Q5K63XTyCPy&ust=1513750861183237). Even counyries who have gotten rid of the old High Court judges style Court Dress have retained at least some red, for instance [Pakistan](http://www.infokhyberpakhtunkhwa.gov.pk/doit/foin-tada/uploads/2014/03/6-3-2014-Chief-Justice-Peshawar-High-Court.jpg). I think India is the only one which has gotten totally rid of it. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/34 "2017-12-19T06:44:08Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Never had to wear one have you? > > Criminal Courts. > > Magistrates. No wig gown > > Crown Court: Wig and Gown > > Court of Appeal: Wig and gown > > UK SC: Business suit. > > Civil Courts > > County Courts: Business Suit > > High Court: Depends on the division, but usually a gown sometimes both. Business suit in the Family Division > > Court of Appeal: Gown only > > UK SC: Business suit Hold your horses there, all I said was I like them. No need to jump down my throat. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/35 "2017-12-19T07:09:37Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > There Court dress is based off the High Court of [England and Wales judges Court dress](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/12/08/article-0-0F17FF4E00000578-38_634x427.jpg). > > The colour red has been linked with the senior judiciary in England and later British colonies for centuries . . . . For[example in Kenya](https://www.google.com.pk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwiN8JXIt5XYAhUDyqQKHUQ0DnMQjxwIAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.judiciary.go.ke%2Fportal%2Fblog%2Fpost%2Fjudges-mwilu-and-lenaola-sworn-in-as-dcj-and-supreme-court-judge-respectively&psig=AOvVaw2dMOQc-x0c6Q5K63XTyCPy&ust=1513750861183237). Even counyries who have gotten rid of the old High Court judges style Court Dress have retained at least some red, for instance [Pakistan](http://www.infokhyberpakhtunkhwa.gov.pk/doit/foin-tada/uploads/2014/03/6-3-2014-Chief-Justice-Peshawar-High-Court.jpg). I think India is the only one which has gotten totally rid of it. Ireland totally got rid of it back in the 1920s. ---
**Author:** ![dofe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@dofe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dofe)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/36 "2017-12-19T07:17:37Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > UK SC: Business suit Somewhat ironically, the U.S. Supreme Court is the only court in America where you’ll find attorneys wearing formal morning coats. By tradition, the Solicitor General (the Department of Justice lawyer appointed to represent the federal government in the Supreme Court) or his/her deputies wear [morning coats](http://languageofstyle.blogspot.com/2013/03/tradition-lives-at-supreme-court.html)when appearing in Court for oral arguments. Elena Kegan (current Supreme Court Justice) [opted](http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/sg_dumped_traditional_morning_coat_for_first_high_court_appearance/) not to wear a morning coat during her tenure as Solicitor General, but she’s the only SG to not have done so. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/37 "2017-12-19T07:42:07Z")
> [@Malden\_Capell](#): > > Hold your horses there, all I said was I like them. No need to jump down my throat. > Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 🙂 Am not. I liked them too. Then I actually had to wear them. Middle of summer, in a stuffy Court, sweating bullets, the damn thing _itches_. I often used to get a rash along the cap line. Don’t miss wearing it at all. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/38 "2017-12-19T08:19:36Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > Nothing wrong with a kilt by itself, but wearing a tie of the same material and pattern as the suit is one of my only “fashion don’ts”. Unless you think David S. Pumpkins is a style icon. 😉 “Pattern”? That there, son, is not a “pattern”. That is a family tartan. Probably of Clan Buchanan. (But, yes, he should not be wearing his tartan on his tie because ties are evil and need to be outlawed.) ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/39 "2017-12-19T10:16:35Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > The whole wig thing is gradually being phased out. Supreme Court justices wear no legal dress anyway… This implies that the Supreme Court had a long tradition of wearing legal dress, but isn’t the Supreme Court itself less than 8 years old? ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2017, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771/40 "2017-12-19T11:09:57Z")
Scottish judges also wear wigs and gowns. In fact, even more elaborate ones than English judges. Full dress > **[JOLLY JUDGES.](http://www.lesleydonaldphotography.com/Supreme-Courts/i-BSJZ9t5)** > > ©LesleyDonaldPhotography-JOLLY JUDGES AT THE ST GILES KIRKING TODAY. (LEFT TO RT) LORD UIST,GLENNIE, DOHERTY MALCOLM AND BRAILSFORD Less extreme version > **[NICOLA STURGEON FIRST MINISTER SWORN IN. 20/11/2014](http://www.lesleydonaldphotography.com/Supreme-Courts/i-JScwbjW)** > > ©LESLEY DONALD PHOTOGRAPHY. NICOLA STURGEON IS SWORN IN. THE LORD PRESIDENT LORD GILL SWEARS IN THE NEW FIRST MINISTER. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-actually-required-to-dress-like-a-cartoon-character-to-practice-before-english-courts/804771.md?page=3)