JUDGE SITS AT BLENHEIM COURT WITHOUT WIG.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18189, 23 June 1927, Page 6

JUDGE SITS AT BLENHEIM COURT WITHOUT WIG.

ASKS COUNSEL NOT TO WEAR CUSTOMARY ROBES. (Special to the “ Star.”) BLENHEIM, June 22. The Supreme Court presented a rather strange appearance yesterday and to-day owing to the fact that neither his Honor nor counsel wore the traditional wigs and gowns. It appears that at the conclusion of the Nelson sittings of the Court Mr Justice MacGregor’s wig and gowns were inadvertently forwarded direct to Wellington, and on arrival in Blenheim his Honor found himself bereft of these ancient emblems of the dignity and wisdom of the Bench. Ilis Honor kept himself in countenance by requesting counsel not to robe, hence the court’s unusual appearance. It is not many years since a Dunedin barrister was publicly rebuked by the Bench for venturing into court in a light grey suit, a portion of which was visible under his gown, and was informed that the court’s etiquette demanded that counsel must wear a dark suit beneath his robes, and it is probable that only a few years ago a Judge finding himself in Mr Justiae MacGregor’s position would have felt himself obliged to decline to sit until his missing accoutrements were found. Possibly history was made in the Blenheim Court and the incident may foreshadow the day when the wig and gown will be but a memory.