Is it some kind of a compulsory rule or a long going on tradition that the lawyers follow?
What I have figured out is, this dress code dates back to the 17th century.When Queen Mary II died of smallpox in 1694, her ‘widower’, the bisexual King William III ordered all judges and lawyers to attend court wearing black gowns as a token of public mourning for the queen. The order was never formally revoked. However, lawyers liked and adopted the uniform as it gave them a distinct intimidating presence in court. So the culture has started from Britain and as Britishers have ruled a big part of the world the same was carried widely around the world.
In India, the Advocate’s Act 1961 makes it mandatory for advocates appearing in the Supreme Court, High Courts, Subordinate Courts, Tribunals or Authorities to wear a dress that is sober and dignified and since then we have been following the British constitution it was never changed in India even after the British left.
Also, in India the Advocates Act lays down details of the dress code, but aberrations started surfacing when some women started wearing printed saris in court. Women lawyers in India can wear saris, salwar and now trousers, but certainly not jeans. They are not expected to wear loud jewellery or bright lipstick — things that would distract attention in the court room. Pakistan is following same code by tradition.
Likewise, the dress have been modified slightly in other countries as well to conform to local cultural requirements, values and traditions. But till now may countries follow the old traditional dress code of British i.e black robe and a wig.
In Afghanistan and Iran, the chief justice wears a white gown and black turban.
In Australia, court dress varies according to the jurisdiction.
In United States Lawyers wear normal business attire in courts of all levels. So its not a fixed dress code system all over the world but every country want their lawyers and judges to be dressed formally so that privilege and decorum of court can be maintained.
The dress code is not merely a status symbol, but brings out discipline among lawyers and gives them the confidence to fight for justice. The dress code also differentiates the lawyers from other professionals.
But just think about the lawyers in Black in India during summers. Even ordinary people, wearing white or light shade clothes perspire heavily in temperatures hovering between 38 and 48 degrees Celsius. One can easily imagine the plight of lawyers, attired in black coats.
It would not be out of place to mention that in most cases, courtrooms and the adjoining places only in superior courts are air conditioners available. Other courts that constitute the majority continue to function in the old fashion, served by air coolers subject to availability of water.
The same way, the comfort of air conditioned chambers is enjoyed by only privileged advocates who function from officially allotted rooms or shared accommodation in metro cities. But in most of the districts, many lawyers sit under tinned or thatched roofs and even under trees, swept by hot winds — and don’t forget, wearing a black coat.
So as a conclusion, it was culture that started from Britain and passed around in remaining world that we later on can term it the better way as,
Lawyers wear black coat so that they have to defend the case of each of the side and black is the colour of defence. To say that law is blind. To say that law is only based on weight of evidence and not on colours of people.
.jpg)
Comments