All rise, all rise, The Times fashion department hereby acquits the Lord Chief Justice of all charges against judicial traditions. We are aware of the 300 years of history contended in court today, but for crimes against poodles, the wig must go and with it we also bid farewell to the bin-liner gown and starched collars. In short, we like the new look.

Yes, on first inspection, Betty Jackson’s design probably errs a little on the bland side of courtroom life, but fashion is a subtle beast these days. It is all very well celebrating the ornate gowns of yesteryear but that isn’t going to prevent any ASBO worth their hoody from cracking up at the pompous old toff presiding in court.

And you can’t really blame them. Imagine delivering your verdict from the costume of a pantomime dame. Jackson’s eerie minimalism will certainly put pay to laughing defendants. It will also alleviate itchy scalps. In terms of the fashion nitty gritty, the simple gown has satisfying Savile Row dimensions that will flatter their honours who can’t boast the Lord Chief Justice’s lean model stats.

It also possesses a handy dose of crisp authority. If you want to get all fashiony about the whole thing, the combination of black wool and navy velvet facings and cuffs makes the kind of subtle colour triumph reserved for Karl Lagerfeld and Valentino. Both, incidentally, have also gone for gowns this autumn/winter 2008.

And what about the cheeky coloured bands? We love them. Not just because they have a kooky and geometric Marni sense of humour but because they lift the funereal vibe.

So, yes, the new look ticks all the fashion boxes but remains cerebral enough to invoke respect in the courtroom. The icing on the cake is the karate-style colour hierarchy on the bands that we can only assume Jackson pinched from Mr Miyagi.

That should make the ASBOs feel at home.