Title: In Re: Amendments to The Florida Rules of Judicial Administration - New Rule 2.340
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: SC15-497
State: Florida
Issuer: Florida Supreme Court
Date: September 10, 2015

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC15-497 
____________ 
 
 
IN RE:  AMENDMENTS TO THE FLORIDA RULES OF JUDICIAL 
ADMINISTRATION—NEW RULE 2.340. 
 
[September 10, 2015] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
The Court, on its own motion, adopts new Florida Rule of Judicial 
Administration 2.340 (Judicial Attire) to govern judges’ attire during judicial 
proceedings.1  The demeanor of judges in a public courtroom, including the attire 
they wear there, is a crucial indicator of the seriousness of the judicial office and of 
the proceedings.  In this regard, this Court has a major responsibility to provide 
leadership and direction to advance the judicial branch’s ongoing effort to enhance 
public trust and confidence in the third branch of government.  As part of this 
responsibility, we adopt new rule 2.340 to provide guidance to Florida’s judges 
and emphasize that the attire worn by judges during judicial proceedings must 
                                          
 
 
1. See Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.140(d). 
 
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promote public trust and confidence in the proceedings and the judicial system as a 
whole.2   
 
Prior to adopting the new rule, the Court published notice that it was 
considering adopting a rule to govern judges’ attire during judicial proceedings, 
specifically seeking comments from the Rules of Judicial Administration 
Committee and the conferences of judges.  The Court received eight comments.   
The Conference of County Court Judges has no comment on the rule.  The 
Conference of Circuit Court Judges reports that it takes no position on the rule 
because of a lack of clear direction from the membership, some of whom support 
the rule and some of whom object to it.  The Conference of District Court of 
Appeal Judges does not see a need for the rule and is unaware of “any 
inappropriate circumstances which it believes would be curtailed by the rule.”  The 
Rules of Judicial Administration Committee agrees the new rule is appropriate and 
within the Court’s purview.  Other commenters question the need for the rule or its 
application.  Some commenters express concern that the Court does not trust 
judges to dress appropriately or otherwise exercise good judgment.   
After considering the comments and reflecting on this Court’s responsibility 
to provide clear direction when needed to promote public trust and confidence in 
                                          
 
 
2.  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const.   
 
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the judicial branch, we adopt new rule 2.340, as published for comment, to provide 
that “[d]uring any judicial proceeding, robes worn by a judge must be solid black 
with no embellishment.”3  
In adopting the new rule, we want to assuage any concern that this Court 
does not have confidence in Florida’s judges.  To the contrary, this Court holds the 
judges of this state in the utmost esteem and is confident the vast majority of 
judges fully fulfill their ethical responsibilities to respect and honor the judicial 
office they hold, and to present and conduct themselves in a manner that promotes 
trust and confidence in our judicial system.  See Fla. Code of Jud. Conduct, 
Preamble (recognizing that “intrinsic to all sections of [the Code of Judicial 
Conduct] are the precepts that judges, individually and collectively, must respect 
and honor the judicial office as a public trust and strive to enhance and maintain 
confidence in our legal system”).  Our Code of Judicial Conduct recognizes that as 
the “arbiter of facts and law for the resolution of disputes,” Florida’s judges are the 
face of the judicial branch of government.  And, as such, judges must conduct 
themselves accordingly, both in their actions and their appearance.  Id. 
                                          
 
 
3. Cf. Ala. R. Jud. Admin. 22 (requiring judges to wear suitable black robes 
during judicial proceedings); Alaska R. Admin. Cts. 21 (requiring judges to wear a 
suitable black robe while presiding in public session of court); Cal. R. Ct. 10.505 
(governing style of black robes worn by judges in open court, as prescribed by 
statute); Wis. Sup. Ct. R. 62.02 (requiring judges to wear black robes while 
presiding from bench). 
 
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(recognizing the judge as “a highly visible symbol of government under the rule of 
law”).  When a litigant appears in court, it is the presiding judge who sets the tone 
of the proceedings, puts those in attendance at ease, and maintains order and 
decorum throughout the proceedings, all of which establishes confidence in the 
legal process.   
Consistent with the overarching precept of the Code of Judicial Conduct that 
judges, individually and collectively, must promote trust and confidence in the 
judicial system, it is the policy of the judicial branch and of this Court to develop 
strategies to promote public trust and confidence in the judiciary.  In fact, the long-
range strategic plan for the Florida judicial branch approved by this Court includes, 
as one of its “long-range issues”4 and core tenets, the enhancement of public trust 
and confidence in the judicial branch: 
Long-Range Issue #5—Enhancing Public Trust and Confidence 
Public trust and confidence in the judicial branch is at the core 
of maintaining a peaceful and democratic society.  The judicial branch 
                                          
 
 
4.  According to the long-range strategic plan,  
 
The long-range issues are high priority strategic areas presenting 
significant challenges that must be addressed over the long term in 
order to move toward fulfilling the vision and mission [of the Judicial 
Branch]. 
The Florida Supreme Court Task Force on Judicial Branch Planning, The Long-
Range Strategic Plan for the Florida Judicial Branch 2009-2015, 2 (on file with 
Office of State Court Adm’r). 
 
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must consistently strive to maintain and improve the public’s trust and 
confidence by: fulfilling its mission of protecting rights and liberties, 
upholding and interpreting the law, and providing for the peaceful 
resolution of disputes; and by achieving its vision of being accessible, 
fair, effective, responsive, and accountable to all Floridians.  
Regardless of the economic and political challenges, the branch must 
remain steadfast in its commitment to maintain and consistently build 
the public’s trust and confidence. 
The Florida Supreme Court Task Force on Judicial Branch Planning, The Long-
Range Strategic Plan for the Florida Judicial Branch 2009-2015, 20 (on file with 
Office of State Court Adm’r).   
According to the long-range strategic plan, “[s]urvey respondents in 2008 
reported higher levels of trust and confidence in Florida’s courts than did 
respondents to a survey in 1996.”  However, the plan goes on to recognize that 
despite the strides that the branch has made in improving the public’s trust and 
confidence,  
confusion still exists among the public about the role, purposes, and 
function of courts, and a compelling need remains to better educate 
and inform the public about the role and accomplishments of the 
branch, according to recent survey findings.  Effective public 
education about the courts helps to better inform the public and 
positively shape public perception and understanding of the judicial 
branch.  These ongoing efforts are vitally important to enhancing 
public trust and confidence. . . . 
To fulfill its mission and achieve its vision, the judicial branch 
must perform its duties with impartiality, integrity, and honesty.  
Additionally, the courts’ performance must be perceived to be fair and 
free from systemic bias, particularly concerning race. . . .  
Finally, the State Courts System can enhance public trust and 
confidence by maintaining the highest standards of accountability for 
 
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its use of public resources, adhering to statutory and constitutional 
mandates, and continuing to improve its overall performance.  The 
State Courts System should inform the public, demonstrate 
transparency, and ultimately maintain and build the public’s trust and 
confidence by regularly and accurately reporting on its use of 
resources and its accomplishments. 
Id.  The strategies identified in issue number 5 of the long-range plan are just some 
of the ways that the judicial branch as a whole can instill public trust and 
confidence.  This Court and the Chief Justice have a separate, yet concomitant, 
obligation as the head of the judicial branch to identify and implement additional 
strategies to ensure the public trust.5  
Presiding judges wearing different colored robes or robes with varying 
embellishments could result in uncertainty for those coming before our courts and 
                                          
 
 
5.  According to the long-range strategic plan, it is: 
 
intended to assist the Supreme Court of Florida and the chief justice of 
Florida in leading the State Courts System as well as the judicial 
branch.  In addition to exercising direct control over the 
administration of the State Courts System, the supreme court and the 
chief justice provide leadership and direction within the broader 
justice system.  The supreme court makes rules governing the courts 
and the legal profession, oversees the regulation of lawyers and the 
admission of new lawyers into the practice of law, imposes judicial 
discipline based upon recommendations by the Judicial Qualifications 
Commission, and provides critical oversight over other aspects of the 
justice system.  Therefore, within this plan some goals and strategies 
are explicitly directed to the State Courts System, and others are 
addressed more broadly to the overall justice system. 
The Long-Range Strategic Plan for the Florida Judicial Branch 2009-2015, at 2. 
 
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serve to counter the efforts the branch has employed to gain the public’s trust.  For 
example, one could question whether there is a “status” attributed to the varying 
colors or embellishments worn by different judges, e.g., whether the color or 
embellishment denotes a rank of judge based on tenure, ability, or some other 
factor—is this judge more or less qualified or maybe the chief judge?  Depending 
on the color or pattern of the robe or the type of embellishment worn, some may 
wonder whether the presiding judge is a “real judge” or whether the judge will take 
the proceedings seriously.  Robe color also could be seen as a reflection of a 
judge’s mood or attitude that day.  Should a defendant facing the death penalty feel 
trepidation when the presiding judge appears in a red robe or feel more at ease 
when the robe is green?  The possibility that the unique attire of the judge assigned 
to one’s case could raise these concerns and thereby diminish public trust and 
confidence in the proceedings is not acceptable. 
The public should not have to guess as to the meaning of different colored, 
patterned, or embellished robes.  Promoting uniformity in judicial attire, by 
requiring all judges to wear unembellished, solid black robes, will no doubt avoid 
these concerns and promote public trust and confidence.  The people of Florida 
have a right to expect equal justice every day, in every court in this state, and 
should not have to question whether equal justice is being dispensed based on the 
color of a judge’s robe. 
 
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It is also reasonable for the people of Florida to expect the members of their 
judiciary to conduct themselves as professionals consistent with the rules and 
guidelines adopted by this Court.  We have no doubt that the clear majority of 
judges conduct themselves in the most exemplary manner and hold themselves to 
the highest of standards, and would do so without any rules governing their 
conduct or attire.  Unfortunately, that is not the case with all judges.  One need 
only read the myriad opinions from this Court disciplining judges after a finding of 
misconduct by the Judicial Qualifications Commission to agree that this Court 
must provide guidance when it identifies an area of potential concern.  Adopting 
new rule 2.340 is but another step this Court takes in furtherance of its oversight 
and leadership role in identifying and implementing strategies to enhance the 
public trust and confidence in the third branch of government.  
Accordingly, we amend the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration as 
reflected in the appendix to this opinion.  The new language is indicated by 
underscoring.  The new rule shall become effective immediately upon the release 
of this opinion.   
It is so ordered. 
LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, POLSTON, and PERRY, 
JJ., concur.  
CANADY, J., concurs in result. 
 
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS.  
 
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Original Proceeding – Florida Rules of Judicial Administration  
 
Honorable Merrilee Ehrlich, Broward County Circuit Judge, 17th Judicial Circuit, 
Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Honorable Robert Eugene Belanger, Circuit Judge, 19th 
Judicial Circuit, Fort Pierce, Florida; Honorable David L. Tobin, Retired Circuit 
Judge, Miami, Florida; James Byington McAfee, Jr., Richmond Virginia; 
Honorable William David Palmer, President, Conference of District Court of 
Appeal Judges, Daytona Beach, Florida; Honorable Jeffrey J. Colbath, Chair, 
Florida Conference of Circuit Judges; West Palm Beach, Florida; and Honorable 
Claude Robert Hilliard, President, Conference of County Court Judges of Florida, 
Milton, Florida, 
 
 
 
Responding with Comments 
 
 
 
 
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APPENDIX 
PART. III JUDICIAL OFFICERS 
 
* * * 
 
RULE 2.340 
JUDICIAL ATTIRE 
 
During any judicial proceeding, robes worn by a judge must be solid black 
with no embellishment.