Black Robes for Advocates – A Sneak Peek Into The History

There are various professions that require the practitioners to don a universally accepted uniform. In this context, the prominence of black color that reflects in the everyday attire of people in the legal profession, makes them stand out from the rest of the crowd. Even though the choice of this color has been subjected to immense ridicule over the course of time, it is also responsible for garnering a deep sense of respect that’s associated with the legal profession. However, unknown to the masses, the use of black robes by advocates also has a deep history associated with it. Students pursuing a law course in the best law colleges in India are taught about the same.

Historical Evolution Of Legal Dress Code

Many people are surprised to learn that the history encircling the black robes donned by legal professionals dates back to around 1327, in the era of Edward III. During that time, the lawyers or barristers, as they were commonly referred to, had a dress code that was similar to the judges. This generally comprised gowns with stuffed shoulders, glove sleeves of elbow length, and in Britain, the gowns were mostly black in color. The barristers were also required to wear coifs, skullcaps, and neck bands.  In addition, the barristers, who were not granted permission to present their case before the court, had to wear long, open black gowns that bore winged sleeves. This was in accordance with the regulations of the Inns of Court, which was responsible for organizing barrister education and membership in Britain, during that time.

Likely Reasons Behind The Choice Of Black Color

There is much speculation about the factors that led to the choice of black color for the robes of legal professionals. Many believe that the color was selected because it offers both positive and negative connotations, both of which form an integral part of the justice system. However, experts of legal history, hailing from the leading law colleges in Delhi cite the following, as the more plausible reasons behind the choice of this color.

·   As mentioned before, the evolution of black robes dates back to the middle ages. During that time, colors and dyes were not readily available, and the easily accessible purple color was often reserved for royalty. Hence, black was the only abundant and cost-effective fabric color that was left for use, when it came to devising a dress-code.

·   The color black was often associated with authority and power, and also reflected a sense of submission. It is a common belief that black color is synonymous to justice, just like the white robes of catholic priests are synonymous with their notion of the almighty.

·   Another, more philosophical reason behind the choice of black color is that it lends seriousness to the identity of a legal professional. The black robe symbolizes a sense of discipline among the lawyers and represents them as the flag bearers of rights and justice.

·   Being opaque, the color black also reflects the fact that the advocates of law are unbiased with respect to the innocence or guilt of a person, until the same is substantiated in a legal manner. Thus, the choice of black color is also believed to have resulted from the efforts that thrive to make the legal profession both fair and just.

Deviations From Norm

During the 17th century, the black robes were replaced by more colorful gowns, when countries opted to choose the dress code of their legal professionals, with respect to their culture’s taste and preferences. In fact, in 1602, the dress code of lawyers and judges was decided in accordance with a royal mandate that provided details about the color, fabric, and length of the dresses and gowns that were to be worn by the members of the court. In 1635, the Decree of Westminster in Britain, provided the Monarch with the right to decide the dress code of the legal professionals. Specific colors were chosen for the dress code in accordance with numerous factors such as seasons and days of the week. However, black robes became an absolute norm when Queen Mary II passed away in 1694 and all the judges of Britain attended her funeral wearing black robes as a sign of mourning. The mourning, which lasted for several years after the burial of Queen Mary II, solidified the use of black robes as the official dress of legal professionals - and the same got etched in history.

The world of law is replete with innumerable facts that tend to leave one awestruck. We hope that now as a lawyer (or an aspiring one), you are fairly familiar with the rich history of your robes.