Latest UK judicial controversy – The New Look (14 May 2008)
“what an alien android with menacing religious undertone would wear”
Vogue reveals the UK judges' new look, described by the deputy fashion editor of guardian as “what an alien android with menacing religious undertone would wear”, making the wearer look like an “evil pastor” or “cutprice Cruella de Vil”.
Lord Phillips, the lord chief justice, as shown in the Vogue article modelling the new look told the Times however “Quite a lot of judges are not in favour of change at all because it is a break with tradition,” but added, “I shan't be in charge of enforcement”. The bands are colour coded - gold for court of appeal judges and heads of high court divisions, red for high court judges and lilac for circuit judges sitting as deputy high court judge and blue for district judges. The gown material is said to be made of dark navy gabardine and wool mix, trimmed with velvet on the cuffs.