The Lord Chief Justice has today handed down a Practice Direction which will introduce the wearing of a new civil robe in civil and family law cases from 1 October 2008. The Practice Direction is appended to this release. The new civil gown will be worn without a wig.
The President of the Family Division has provided additional guidance for judges sitting on family cases (also appended to this release) to cover certain types of family proceedings that are normally conducted in private.
Court working dress in criminal cases is not affected by the reforms other than High Court Judges wearing their winter robes in summer and winter alike.
The Bar Council is today publishing guidance to the court working dress of advocates, which take effect on the same date.
In response to the Bar Council’s announcement, Lord Phillips, the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales said:
"I welcome and approve the guidance which the Bar Council has published today on court working dress, to run in parallel with the changes to judicial court working dress that take effect on 1 October this year. I am grateful to the Bar for having reached agreement with the Law Society and Institute of Legal Executives before producing their guidance."
ENDS
