The Magic of Gowning
In Canada, lawyers wear traditional black gowns when appearing in Superior Court.
If a lawyer enters the courtroom while a judge is present, he or she stops inside the door to bow in the direction of the bench. Similarly, one stops and bows to the bench before exiting. One addresses all his or her comments to the judge, not to other counsel, and always while standing.
When court opens, the clerk will lead the judge to the bench, then turn to the body of the court and recite this incantation: “Order, all rise! Oyez, Oyez, Oyez! Anyone having business before the Queen’s Justice of the Superior Court of Justice draw near and you shall be heard. God save the Queen.”
Needless and archaic pomp and circumstance? Perhaps, but I don’t think so. Ritual is an important part of communication in society, a solemn reminder of who we are and where we fit. Respectful tradition brings calm and order in settings which might otherwise be frightening and overwhelming. The players within the traditions understand their roles and, safe within the ritual, can apply their minds to the things that really matter.
Successful communicators understand the magic of invoking cultural and historic symbols as vehicles for the delivery of powerful messages.
And gowning? Coming out of the robing room, you feel a little like Clark Kent coming out of the telephone booth– you walk taller and with purpose, you are one with a long and noble tradition. It’s no longer just a job. Symbolism works.