The Evolution of Judicial Robes
In early medieval times, judge’s robes were not confined to certain colours and materials. In fact, the only thing judicial robes had in common was that winter robes were lined with fur and summer robes with taffeta. But by 1400, a colour code was beginning to emerge. Although not strictly followed, many judges wore violet robes for winter, green for summer and red for full dress occasions.
In the 14th century, judges and serjeants at law wore the same dress: long robes with a knee length tabard called a collobium over them. By the end of His Majesty King Edward III’s reign, judges shed the collobium and adopted a cloak or mantle fastened on the right shoulder over their long robes. Both serjeants and judges wore hoods, though with different linings.
It wasn’t until over 250 years later that a dress code was laid down for the judiciary. In 1635, the judges sitting at Westminster issued the Judges’ Rules, defining the different types of robe that had been developed from medieval times. These rules formed the basis for all subsequent judicial dress, including much of the dress worn by today’s High Court judges.
