Judges' wigs
A centuries old tradition of wearing a white horse-hair wig in court in the United Kingdom (UK) has ended for many judges starting from 01 October 2008. Subsequently, a simpler new dress code came into force.
However, judges in criminal cases will continue to wear the wigs; those in civil and family hearings will appear bare-headed in court, wearing a new-style plain black robe, according to a report of Reuters filed from London (http://africa.reuters.com/odd/news/usnTRE4902F7.html).
After a long debate that divided the legal profession, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips, head of the judiciary in England and Wales, finally ordered the changes in an attempt to modernize the courts.
Wigs have been an emblem of the British legal system since the 17th century when the fashion of wearing them in wider society filtered through to the courts. For hundreds of years before the reign of Charles II, judges and lawyers were expected to come to court with short hair and a beard.
The decision to abandon wigs has dismayed traditionalists who argue that they give judges an air of authority and impartiality. The degree of anonymity that wigs provided could also protect them from angry members of the public.
John Mortimer, the barrister and author of books, opposed the changes and quoted as saying: "The idea's ridiculous! A barrister without his wig would be like a doctor without a stethoscope."
However, modernists argue that wigs are a hangover from the past that could intimidate people in court.
Lord Phillips has already described wigs as an anachronism that gave the public a false impression of judges.
An UK Ministry of Justice survey last year found that 70 percent of court workers wanted to keep wigs, compared to 42 percent of the public, the Reuters report stated.
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