UNROBED SOLICITORS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 99, 28 April 1922, Page 4

UNROBED SOLICITORS.

CAUSE COMMENT FROM JUDGE. A PRACTICE FOLLOWED IN AUCKLAND. It has often been said that clothes do nfot make the man, but, as instanced by a happening in the Supreme Court this morning, a gowu has something to do when a judge is recognising a solicitor. When a case was called by tit* Deputy-Registrar in the Bankruptcy Court this morning, a young barrister and solicitor, Mr. C. Taylor, stood up and informed Mr. Justice Reed, -who was on the Bench, that he wis appearing for a bankrupt who sought his discharge. Are you the bankrupt? inquired. Mr. . Justice Reed. —No. Mr. Justice Reed: Then who are you, in what capacity-do you appear? Mr. Taylqr: I am solicitor iof the bankrupt, ybur Honor. Mr. Justice Reed: You should be robed when you come to this Court, [-Get robed and I will hear yon 'later/-. The solicitor then resumed his seat. 1 Shortly- afterwards another : solicitor, considerably older than 2\lr. Taylor, and who was not in Court when the judge commented on the lack of sartorial etiquette displayed, announced that "he was appearing in a matter that warranted the judge's attention. iMr. Justice Reed: Why are you not robed? It is the usual thing that rotes should be worn in this Court. The solicitor seemed surprised, and apparently reaKsing that he had "dropped" a blot on the escutcheon "of the Court, hesitated somewhat. I any a young solicitor, and I'was not aware that it was the practice to be robed At a Bankruptcy Court, your Honor.' 1 . am not a barrister. ' - fHfs 'Honor then- nirnniar to" tie . Deputy-Registrar, inquired it it -was the practice for solicitors to c-ome to tlie Bankruptcy Court without robing. On being informed that i-o had been the custom, his Honor remarked that it was the first Court in which he had presided where solicitors had not been robed. "However, I will take this matter." Subsequently the judge heard Mr. a Taylor and several other solicitors who were not robed.