The Chief Justice of Western Australia, the Hon Wayne Martin, has announced that from 1 January 2010, Supreme Court judges will wear black robes rather than traditional red robes, without wigs, for all court sittings.

He said that District Court judges would also abandon the use of wigs for all court sittings but would continue to wear criminal robes.

Wigs were abandoned by the WA Supreme and District Courts for all civil matters in 1999.

The Chief Justice said the Courts were vibrant, contemporary Australian institutions, and the changes reflected that fact.

“I have publicly stated since my appointment that I did not believe the wearing of traditional European court attire was appropriate in Western Australia in the 21st century,” he said.

“My judicial colleagues support that view. We believe that a move to more modern court attire better reflects how our Courts go about their work.”

VIEW ALL

Lawyers will not be required to wear wigs when appearing in the Supreme and District Courts from 1 January.