Effective April 19, 2022, counsel must be gowned for any virtual proceeding that if conducted in person would require gowning. For greater clarity, unless a region-specific Practice Direction states otherwise, counsel are not required to gown for the following court attendances:

• Trial scheduling court (also known as assignment court, “speak to” court or “purge court”) in family, criminal or civil proceedings;

• Case conferences, settlement conferences, trial management conferences, or pre-trials; and

• Small Claims Court proceedings.

Counsel must be gowned for all other in-person or virtual proceedings. They must do so regardless of whether the presiding judicial official is a judge or an associate judge.

Justice George A. MacPherson, Superior Court of Justice - Family Division