Some customs we take for granted are not as old as is generally believed. In June of 1909, the Georgia Bar Association at its state convention held in Indian Springs, cautiously voted to approve the wearing of judicial robes by judges of Georgia's appellate courts, "if they decide to do so."
Judges in Bibb County courts only began wearing judicial robes in 1967. After consultation with the local judges, the Macon Bar Association approved the practice and purchased the first robes. This was part of a statewide trend. The Chatham County Bar provided robes for their judges the same year.
Even more surprising, the custom of lawyers - and all others in attendance -rising when a judge enters the courtroom did not become accepted practice in Bibb County until 1920. At the annual meeting in January of that year, this Association adopted a resolution; "That members of the Bar will rise when the Judge of a court of record enters the courtroom." This too was done with the prior consultation, approval, and probably at the request of, the local judges.
Frank McKenney
Bar Historian