Morning Coat Solicitor General
Most obviously to spectators at oral argument before the court the solicitor general and his or her deputies traditionally appear in formal morning coats 11 although elena kagan the only woman to hold the office elected to forgo the practice.
Morning coat solicitor general. Nothing captures the public imagination more i suspect than the thought of the solicitor general standing up to argue before the supreme court in striped pants and morning coat as tradition dictates. It s not only the solicitor general who has to wear morning dress either all the solicitor general deputies have to wear it too. Indeed the solicitor general and his staff are true repeat players before the court arguing about two thirds of all the cases heard each term. Oral arguments are almost always.
The solicitor general appears before the court wearing a morning coat and striped pants. The solicitor general is appointed to represent the united states before the supreme court in all cases that involve the federal government. Morning dress has recurred in the traditional easter parade associated with fifth avenue in new york city. The morning coat is part of morning dress which is formal attire for daytime use.
Like so many of the court s goofy sartorial traditions the inaugural skullcap e g the solicitor general s morning coat seems to have lingered on for decades merely because it has lingered. Morning coats and first arguments. Most other lawyers wear ordinary business suits. I think the solicitor general s office is missing a great opportunity.
The united states solicitor general and deputies wear morning coats during oral argument before the united states supreme court as do the marshal and clerk of the court during all sessions of the court unless they are female. Supreme court argument without wearing a formal morning coat. Solicitor general elena kagan ended a tradition on wednesday when she made her first u s. As of 2009 though the office of the solicitor general has a new policy that requires morning coats for men but makes them optional for women.
In this role he and his subordinates appear in nearly 2 3 of the court s cases each term.