Circular on Judicial Dress Code and Address

Made on 23rd August, 2011

FROM:      CHIEF JUSTICE & PRESIDENT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF KENYA
 
TO:          ALL JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT
                ALL JUDGES OF THE COURT OF APPEAL
                ALL JUDGES OF THE HIGH COURT
                ALL MAGISTRATES
REF:         C.J. 90

I want to bring to your attention the decisions arrived at by consensus at the just concluded Judges Colloquium also attended by the JSC. You will note that some of these decisions take effect immediately:

• Wigs will be discarded with immediate effect. Those who have them can either keep them as souvenirs or hand them over to the Chief Registrar;
• No head gear of any type will be worn except by the Kadhis;
• There will be two robes for each court, one ceremonial, one functional;
• Each court will deliberate on the material and colours of robes it would wish to wear;
• Magistrates will through their association deliberate on whether or not they want to wear robes;
• All judges, magistrates and Kadhis will be addressed as  YOUR HONOUR/MHESHIMIWA and this salutation must be communicated to the Bar and the public forthwith; and
• Each court will determine the dress code of the members of the Bar appearing before it.