# Is there a mandatory SCOTUS dress code? Could a female justice add colors to her robe? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 8, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345 "2009-09-08T22:41:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/1 "2009-09-08T22:41:13Z")
Just curious. Could a female justice opt for a different colored robe if the mood took her? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/2 "2009-09-08T22:47:40Z")
Why only women? I think those robes could be faaaaaabulous, darling, with a few sequins and feathers. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/3 "2009-09-08T22:48:23Z")
I don’t believe there’s anything but tradition and taste limiting the justices to basic black. They are certainly free to accessorize: [SUPREME COURT STYLE: Who's The Best-Dressed Justice? (PHOTOS, POLL) | HuffPost Life](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/27/supreme-court-style-whos_n_208159.html) ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/4 "2009-09-08T22:54:24Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Just curious. Could a female justice opt for a different colored robe if the mood took her? Um, yes and no … scholastic gowns have specific colors associated with the degree. > **[Doctoral Robe, Gown, Hood, Doctors, PhD](https://www.academicapparel.com/caps/robes_doctoral.html)** > > Doctoral Robe, Academic Regalia, Gown, Hood, Doctors, PhD, Tam, College, University, Faculty though the [custom JD robe](http://saxonuniforms.com/regalia/judicialgown.html) seems rather gaudy … ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/5 "2009-09-08T23:01:01Z")
Since the Supreme Court isn’t ruling over a college graduation, the above robes are meaningless. The only thing restraining the justices is tradition. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/6 "2009-09-08T23:38:44Z")
I expect big things from Sotomayor. Like flashy Flamenco skirts and off-the-shoulder necklines! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/7 "2009-09-08T23:44:51Z")
I think those would be more Scalia’s style. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Never\_Say\_Dice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee59a6/32.png) [@Never\_Say\_Dice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Never_Say_Dice)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/8 "2009-09-09T00:03:02Z")
If she dares to wear slacks, the Islamic fundamentalists will fine her $200 and/or 50 lashes. That’s what kept Hillary from wanting the job, you’ll recall. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/9 "2009-09-09T00:18:28Z")
Rhenquist pimped out his robes with some gold stripes, supposedly taken from a Gilbert & Sullivan performance he had seen at some point. That’s about as radical as judicial robes get. [Here’s](http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2414083) a pic… ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/10 "2009-09-09T01:13:33Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Um, yes and no … scholastic gowns have specific colors associated with the degree. > > [Doctoral Robe, Gown, Hood, Doctors, PhD](http://www.academicapparel.com/caps/robes_doctoral.html) > > though the [custom JD robe](http://saxonuniforms.com/regalia/judicialgown.html) seems rather gaudy … Uh oh… You might want to tell most of the [world’s judiciary](http://www.filibustercartoons.com/judges.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/11 "2009-09-09T01:30:57Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > Uh oh… You might want to tell most of the [world’s judiciary](http://www.filibustercartoons.com/judges.htm). What’s up with Canada? Why do their Supreme Court Judges have to dress like Santa? Does that mean if you have a case before the Supreme Court, you should leave milk and cookies? ---
**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:** [September 9, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/12 "2009-09-09T02:31:08Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > What’s up with Canada? Why do their Supreme Court Judges have to dress like Santa? Does that mean if you have a case before the Supreme Court, you should leave milk and cookies? Canada pretty kept the same robes (for both judges & lawyers) as in England; they only ditched the wigs. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/13 "2009-09-09T02:57:23Z")
Well, Supreme Court Justices, like all federal judges, are appointed for life, so one could show up for court naked, and there would be nothing anyone could do to stop him or her unless Congress elected to impeach and remove the justice. That being said, virtually all US judges keep the judicial tradition of a plain black robe (with the exception of some state high court judges that have slightly different traditional robes). Given the strong emphasis on continuity of practice in the common law judicial system, it is unlikely that any judge, particularly a Supreme Court Justice, will stray too far afield in their courtroom attire. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/14 "2009-09-09T03:08:56Z")
All this time, and no one’s mentioned that Rehnquist specifically added four yellow stripes to his robe in homage to Gilbert and Sullivan’s _Iolanthe_? ---
**Author:** ![CT\_Damsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CT\_Damsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CT_Damsel)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/15 "2009-09-09T03:16:36Z")
I remember when Sandra Day O’Connor first a justice. The local paper ran a story with illustrations for suggested robes she could wear. Tongue in cheek of course. They showed drawings of what each designer of that day might design for her robe. They even had a “top-less” robe as an homage to Rudi Gernreich. ---
**Author:** ![SleepyDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@SleepyDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SleepyDuck)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/16 "2009-09-09T03:18:53Z")
> [@Indistinguishable](#): > > All this time, and no one’s mentioned that Rehnquist specifically added four yellow stripes to his robe in homage to Gilbert and Sullivan’s _Iolanthe_? Psst, read post 9 ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/17 "2009-09-09T03:21:40Z")
:smack: Whoops, missed that. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/18 "2009-09-09T03:51:12Z")
I heard on CBS radio today that Ginsberg had her robes made outside the US, due to the robes being designed specifically for men. There is a mention of the story [here](http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2009/09/supreme-court-opens-up-to-cspan.html). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/19 "2009-09-09T05:42:33Z")
There’s no law about it; it’s a matter of custom. She could wear any kind of robe she wanted to, although given the guff Rehnquist got with his gold sleeve bands, I suspect she wouldn’t. I know a former trial court judge named Greene who sometimes wore a green robe. She looked like she ought to have been in a church choir. Black robes are traditional and, IMHO, best. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345/20 "2009-09-09T06:40:01Z")
Does she have to wear a robe at all? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-mandatory-scotus-dress-code-could-a-female-justice-add-colors-to-her-robe/509345.md?page=2)