Young lawyer without the approriate attire

The News Straits Times recently reported that The Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Gopal Sri Ram actually hammered a young lawyer for not wearing the robe and bib when making an appearance in the Court of Appeal.

Wednesday, 10 September 2008 09:13am

©New Straits Times (Used by permission) Sri Ram took the Bar Council to task for "not doing anything' to address falling standards and respect for the court PUTRAJAYA: No robe, no talk. This, in a nutshell, was the message that Court of Appeal judge Datuk Gopal Sri Ram had for a young lawyer yesterday who appeared before a panel of judges without the required apparel. He initially offered the lawyer , called to the bar three months ago, a hint by saying "I can't hear you.' When the lawyer, who was also not wearing a bib around her neck, did not take the bait but continued addressing the court, Sri Ram told her that she was not suitably attired. The judge then asked her whether she was told that it was fundamental for a lawyer to be fully attired before appearing in court. To this, the lawyer, who had come to court to withdraw an appeal in a civil case, replied that she did not know about the requirement as she had not been told about it. On hearing this, Sri Ram took the Bar Council to task for "not doing anything' to address falling standards and respect for the court. He also criticised the legal profession for the deterioration in standards. Sri Ram said the legal firm which employed the lawyer and her master during her pupillage should also be held equally responsible. He said he had instructed a senior assistant registrar to lodge a complaint with the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board against her employer, and her master. The court later instructed another lawyer to take over her matter. Also sitting with Sri Ram were Datuk Vincent Ng and Datuk Sulaiman Daud.

Well, i know i should be sympathetic for the young lawyer as she was being torn to bits by Datuk Gopal. But, initially i feel that her attitude was unacceptable. Whoever is in the legal profession knows that they must wear a robe and a bib when appearing in the High Court/the Superior Courts for a open court matter.Eventhough is just to withdraw an appeal. This is fundamental. All right, assuming that she really don't know about the requirement, won't she felt awkward when she appeared in the court house when every single person at the bar table is fully attired??!!

(I've replaced the her name to 'the lawyer' and also deleted the firm's name)