Fabulosity, Fashion, Federal Judges, State Judges

Do Robes Make the Judge?

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Over the weekend, the New York Times had an interesting article about New York judges and their robes. It begins:

In Britain, judges are wedded to a tradition of elegant attire: scarlet and ermine robes, tippets over the shoulders, black girdles and, of course, the crimped, gray horsehair wig.

Minor correction: British judges have dispensed with wigs, except in criminal proceedings.
The article then discusses the robe-wearing styles of various judges. Judge ShawnDya Simpson, for example, “rarely fastens all the buttons and often accents [her robe] with a scarf or necklace,” or sometimes dispenses with a robe in favor of a lime-green suit.
Read more, after the jump.


Back at Our Very First Blog, Underneath Their Robes, we did a series of interviews with federal judges. We asked each interviewee about their fabulous judicial robes. Our favorite response came from Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw (9th Cir.):

8. Please tell us all there is to know about your fabulous judicial robes! For example:

(a) “Who are you wearing?”
(b) How many robes do you own?
(c) Do you have different robe styles for different occasions?
(d) Any tips on how to properly care for judicial robes?
(e) Do you ever wear your robe outside the courtroom? (Some possibilities: on Halloween; to costume parties; when traveling in the Middle East, accessorized with a black ski mask; or when you take your Jaguar in for servicing, to send a message of “Don’t overcharge me for those repairs–I may be a woman, but I’m a federal judge!”)

When I first arrived at the district court, Chief Judge Consuelo Marshall shared her robe-secret with me: all of her robes were designed by a retired Hollywood dress designer, Henri O’Bryant. He designed three for me before he passed away. The other two were gifts: one, a departing gift from O’Melveny & Myers, and the other, a gift from the Chancery Club. I keep one in San Francisco, two in my Pasadena chambers, and two at home for other travel. Some are dressier than others and are used (if I can find them) on special occasions. It has never even occurred to me to wear my robe outside the courtroom!

We love the idea of a Hollywood designer making judicial robes. We’ve actually suggested to the producers of Project Runway that they have a judicial robe design challenge in a future episode.
Speaking of Underneath Their Robes, we’ve been toying with the idea of letting a new writer take over UTR and generate new content, if we can find the right person for the job. If you might be interested, please click here for more details. Thanks.
Behind the Gavel, a Sense of Style [New York Times]
Do Robes Define Judges? ShawnDya Simpson Says No [WSJ Law Blog]

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