Master of the Rolls, the Lord Justices, the Chancery and Common Law judges, the Attorney General, the Solicitor General, Queen's Counsel and the leading members of the outer bar. Each of the judges is arrayed in state robes, that of the Lord Chancellor in black and gold and the Chief Justice in scarlet and ermine, and each judge is attended by officers of the court and his personal clerk. This procession moves slowly through the great hall and finally ascends the northern stairway, at the head of which the judges separate to go to their respective courts, the Lord Chancellor, the Master of the Rolls, and the Lord Justice constituting a bench of appeal. This year the procession was witnessed by ex-President Harrison and Mrs. Harri son, and the American ambassador and Mrs. Choate, and three diminutive, but gorgeously dressed, Japanese judges. The last-named did not attract nearly so much attention as Mr. Harrison and Mr. Choate, the latter particularly being a great favorite with the English judges and lawyers. Mr. Harrison, after struggling to understand the meaning of the differences in color and cut and decoration of the various legal robes, and the distinction between Queen's Counsel and Juniors, and barristers and solicitors, was led away to lunch with the Lord Chief Justice. Much of the same attention to ceremonial, and for the same reason, is maintained by the judges upon the opening of the assizes in the various towns throughout the country. It undoubtedly impresses the populace, and adds to the submission that is paid to the judges by litigants in civil proceedings, and to the terror the law inspires in criminals. I happened to be at Liverpool a few days ago at the opening of the assizes in that city. The judges were Mr. Justice Ken nedy, who was the guest of the American Bar Association last summer, and Mr. Jus tice Phillimore. Long before the time fixed for the opening of the court a crowd had
assembled upon the steps and the pavement in front of the court. The approach of the judges was announced by two heralds with a fanfare upon trumpets from which banners depended, the heralds being dressed in a quaint uniform. Behind them, and escort ing the judges when the latter descended from their state coach, were guards armed with the halberd, an old-time combination of spear and battle-axe. The judges, who were in ceremonial wigs and gowns, were further attended by the sheriff of the county in full militan uniform, the latter's chaplain, also in uniform, and certain law officers and clerks. Upon entering the building Mr. Justice Phillimore proceeded to the court where civil business is despatched, while Mr. Justice Kennedy went to the Criminal Court. The opening of the latter court was in keeping with the formality of the judges' entrance. Upon the bench at the right of the judge were the sheriff and the chaplain, and upon the left the marshal and the crown officer. The marshal read the commission under which the assize was held, and then the grand jury was sworn in. The latter occupied a little gallery to the right of the judge, while the petit jurors sat on his left. The grand jurors consisted of the Lord Mayor, a county court judge, an admiral of the navy, a baronet, and several knights, while all the others were magis trates. After the charge, the grand jurors retired and despatched their work with such celerity that in a few moments the first true bill was found, and the first prisoner was called to the bar. It may be interesting to American lawyers to know that when the first petit jury vas sworn an opportunity was given to the prisoner to challenge any juror. The right was not exercised, and the same jury remained in the box through out the day, no counsel thinking it incum bent upon him to ask any one of its mem bers a question touching his qualification as a juror.
STUFF GOWN.
