Judge wig why

Stiff white horsehair wigs are certainly anachronistic and to outsiders frequently baffling. For that reason, solicitors in England abandoned wearing wigs in the s and many courts have done the same, from the civil and family courts more than a decade ago, to the UK supreme court in , to the Scottish court of session three years later.

They have no personal interest in the case. The wig emphasises their anonymity, their separation, their distancing. Despite the high cost and associated discomfort, some people argue that court dress enforces the authority of the law, by setting them apart visually from the public.

Others say it prevents favoritism, ensuring that the opinion of a jury cannot be influenced by the dress of a barrister. In more recent times, the requirements have been substantially relaxed, and the use of robes and wigs is mostly seen during criminal cases and at formal events. It's possible that they'll be discarded entirely within our lifetimes.

For now, just enjoy the strange mixture of absurdity and impressiveness that accompanies these strange traditions—ones which have persisted for centuries without anyone being entirely clear as to why. Have you got a Big Question you'd like us to answer? By the end of the century they were mainly worn by bishops, coachmen and the legal profession — and even bishops were given permission to stop wearing wigs in the s.

Judges wore only full-bottomed wigs until the s, when the less formal, and smaller, bob-wig, with frizzed sides rather than curls, and a short tail or queue at the back, was adopted for civil trials. The full-bottomed wig continued to be used for criminal trials until the s, but is today reserved for ceremonial dress; smaller wigs are used on a day-to-day basis. Yes No. Tell us what you were looking for. About the judiciary About the judiciary The judiciary, the government and the constitution The justice system Who are the judiciary?

Breaking the rules? Not that these guidelines made the matter of correct court dress simple. New courts, new codes Sometimes changes to the court structure itself have had a major effect on what is worn by judges. Dress at the top Elaborate robes of black flowered silk damask, with gold lace and decorations, have been worn by the two senior Chancery judges — the Master of the Rolls and the Lord Chancellor — for ceremonial occasions since the seventeenth century.

Wigs: Following Fashion Until the seventeenth century, lawyers were expected to appear in court with clean, short hair and beards. Thus, one of the main purposes for the introduction of wigs in the court was to introduce the element of uniformity in the law.

Dress codes in any profession have a symbolic meaning and represent something which is the motive of the profession. Likewise, wigs have a symbolic meaning in the legal field. They represent the elite nature of the profession.

They were a fashion statement in the late 17th century and the early 18th century. Wigs symbolize sophistication and a pre-existing custom. Another reason for wearing wigs is to maintain anonymity in practice.

The appearance of the judges and their personal life should not affect the case of a person. Judges need to act anonymously while adjudging in the court. The only factors to be taken into consideration should be the facts of the lawyers and with cases. Thus, wearing wigs enhances the anonymous behavior of judges in the court with the clients so that the personal life of a judge does not affect the case. Thus, wigs represent a judge as a third person who acts as an unbiased, reasonable person and makes a rational decision.