Evening star., 1924-06-02
GOWN ALL LAWYERS,
PROPOSAL OF JUDGE
New York Jurist, Back From Eu-
rope, Impressed by Dignity
of Courts Abroad.
F0RMALITY IMPRESSED TAFT
Bar Association Members to Study
Practice in Britain.
BY ROBERT II. SMALL.

NEW YORK, June "A New York
judge returning from Europe has
come out in favor of compelling all
lawyers to wear black gowns while
pleading a case or representing a
client in all but the most inferior of
the federal, state and county courts.
This Judge was greatly impressed by
the dignity of the courts in Europe.
especially those in Great Britain, and
he is confident that added dignity
and authority would be lent to Amer
lean courts If the custom of gowning,
not alone the bench. but the barris-
ters as well were followed in this
country.
The opinion Of single Judge on a
revolutionary proposal of this sort
mlgns or might not be regarded as
significant by the great mass of at
torneys and purists, but the move
gains immense Importance in view
or the fact that a thousand or more
members of the American Bar Asso-
clatlon are going to England this
summer to be the guests of the Brit
Ism bar and to study the methods and
customs of the British courts MANY
or the American lawyers will continue
tneir journey to the continent and
take peek at the courts Of the other
nations.
Makes for Respect.
1T is the confident belief OF the New
York judge that virtually all of the
American attorneys will come back
imbued with the same Impressions
which were made upon him and that
'hey may lend their support to the
suggestion that American courts be
surrounded with greater formalitv.
Cnquestionably formality makes for
respect, either consciously or uncon-
sclousiy. Here in the state supreme
courb when the judge enters to take
ms ms pace on the bench all spectators.
lawyers and the individuals at the
par are compelled to rise and remain
standing until the Judge is seated
Ihfs does not apply only to the open
ing or the court in the morning when
"a tae crier makes his call, but applies
10 any and all Interruptions, recesses
and other occasions when the iude.
leaves the bench.
In most of the American cour,s
however, even the judges are nor
so"ned. In a great many states only
tne supreme court justices appear il,
the black flowing robes
Even In the lower branches Of the
ieoeral courts the wearing of gowns
rs not compulsory. Therefore, il is
eSIoent that before the movement To
compel lawyers to wear gowns cav
make much headway there must frs
De a general application of the rule
10 the Judges of the various courts
Taft Backer OF Dignity.
Leading members OF the American
bar have contended for some tim.
that this country could learn much
from study of British methods of
jurisprudence. Chief Justice Taft of
the United States Supreme Court has
himself made personal study of the
British courts and is counted among
those who believe that every vantage
OF dignity should be given to the
american courts. The Chief Justice
has viewed with a great deal Of salts
faction the pilgrimage the lawyers
OF this country are about to mako
Committees of the American Bar
Association from time to time haye
gone on record as saying that greater
respect for the law would flow fro,,,
greater general respect for the courts
OF the land. 1t is perhaps a minor
thing to say that gowning the law
yerS as well as the bench would maxi
for respect, but one judge at least
believes the experiment worth trying
lie says there is no question but thai
the churches which have the greatest
mold upon their congregations are
those which go in the deepest for
elaborate ritual and costumed cere-
monial
When the American lawyers return
from Europe in late August and Sen
tember the whole subject will h"
threshed out and many interestila':
points of view are expected.
Copyright, 1924