An Article on Guvner Judicial Attire

It was my intention with this article to address the issue of what the judges in the Fraternity are wearing while sitting on the bench in the Central City Courts. I've modeled the details conerning the Guvner judicial attire along the lines of the English judicial system dress-code as presented in an article I read several years ago from the 'New York Law Review'. Because both the Planescape setting in general, and Sigil in particular, have such obvious 19th century industrial London undertones, I felt the need to conform (to a degree) my ideas with those details presented about what judges in the English law courts have to wear as part of their "office".

Excluding particular factors (members of the Factions), the high-ups of many of the religious clergies, and practitioners of several of the more bizarre forms of entertainment found in Sigil, judges from the Fraternity of Order are the only planars in the City of Doors who, irrespective of race and gender, are always expected to perform their principal duty (as overseers for all criminal proceedings) whilst wearing a ceremonial robe or dress. In contrast, it is standard practice for those Guvners assuming the roles of prosecutor and defender, to dress in the usual Fraternity attire. The Declaration of Fraternity Dress Standards is a uniform code of practice and instruction that clearly states (in usual Guvner style) the most commonly accepted forms of attire one must wear upon entering the inner chambers of the City Courts. It is is a framed declaration, and is posted atop the marble frame of the Court's stone-like outer doors. All citizens who have business inside the Courts must first be certain that their dress specifically (no deviation, however slight is permitted) matches any of the several options of clothing that have been listed in the Declaration. Once this has been determined by the citizen, he is then free to enter into the reception area and go about his business. Now, while this standard Fraternity garb may suit the perceptions of many as being appropriate for wearing beneath judicial robes, the whole purpose of the Guvner judicial dress is that it conceals anything that the judge may be wearing underneath. As a result, if for example a judge was completely naked while wearing the robe, he would exert, as well as exercise, absolutely the same amount of judicial authority on the bench as a judge who has been dressed by one of Sigil's most exclusive tailors (that is, provided he stays behind the bench). Therefore, when it comes to the wielding of Sigilian judicial power, in short, the judge's costume before doning the robe is redundant. It is the robe itself that is significant. The judicial robes worn by most of the overseers of law on many worlds are said to have several minor virtues, two of which are being relatively easy to repair and extremely simple to clean. The Guvner judges, especially those of the higher ranks in the Bureau of Courts (for example, B5s- B4s) are burdened (quite literally, in physical terms) with massive Aborean pegasi-hair wigs that can cost the judge well over five thousand gold pieces and weigh almost one hundred pounds. Guvner judges are also expected to don (as part of their committment to the Declaration of Fraternity Dress Standards) their tasteless brown-coloured robes which are always "edged" with the carcasses of small Aborean woodland creatures, such as squirrels from Arvandor. The complete Guvner judicial robe (which includes both the dress and the wig) is said (although not aloud) to be extremely itchy, mostly unhygienic, and very, very uncomfortable. It is also said to have a less than pleasant smell.