Consolidated practice directions

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Robing 
 
1. 
For the purposes of this Practice Direction robing for: 
(a) 
Judges and Masters
: means black robe without wig or 
jabot/bands; 
(b) 
Counsel
: means black robe with bar jacket and jabot or bands, 
but without wig; and
(c) 
Senior/Queens Counsel
: means the Court dress customarily 
associated with that office but without wig. 
 
Background 
 
2. 
There are no legislative provisions that specifically require robing for 
certain kinds of proceedings and practitioners are expected to robe (or 
not) in accordance with judicial officers' attire for the proceeding. 
3. 
The requirement to robe is drawn from custom and is based on court 
procedure and practice. Historically the need to robe was associated 
with proceedings being conducted in open court as distinct from those 
conducted in a judicial officer's private chambers (with only the parties 
able to attend). However, chambers proceedings are now also open to 
the public making this distinction less clear and practitioners' ability to 
identify when robing is required more difficult. 
4. 
This Practice Direction has been agreed by the Court's judicial officers 
and its purpose is to assist practitioners identify the kinds of 
proceedings for which robing is required. Note however that any 
general rule expressed is subject to any order of the Court otherwise.
 

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10. Practitioners 
PD 10.4 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction
 
Attire when is robing required?