Why do judges wear white hair?
A judge needs to treat every person in his court uniformly without any bias. The wig of a judge creates a separate identity for him and presents him as a third person in order to create a symbol of non-bias.
Why did they wear white wigs in court?
For those of us who can’t make it to London, wigs originally came into the legal uniform for the same reason they entered general colonial era fashion — because people were riddled with syphilis and lice.
Do judges still wear white wigs?
Today, both judges and barristers wear wigs, but each has their own style. Courtroom wigs are white, often handcrafted out of horsehair, and can cost thousands of pounds. Judges used to wear long, curled, full-bottom wigs until the 1780s when they switched to smaller bench wigs.
What is a judge’s hair piece called?
Judicial wigs today are normally made of horsehair. Henry III of France made them on fleek in 1574 and by the 1680s everyone who was anyone was sporting these hairy hats.
Do judges wear wigs?
In addition to robes, judges have generally worn a short bench wig when working in court (reserving the long wig for ceremonial occasions) and a wing collar and bands at the neck. All judges in criminal cases continue to wear these traditional forms of dress, which are described in more detail below.
Why do judges wear GREY wigs?
There are a number of reasons why barristers still wear wigs. The most accepted is that it brings a sense of formality and solemnity to proceedings. By wearing a gown and wig, a barrister represents the rich history of common law and the supremacy of the law over the proceedings.
Why did men back in the day wear white wigs?
The concept of the powdered wig emerged in France the mid 17th century. King Louis XIII was the man first responsible for the trend, as he wore a wig (original called “periwig”) to cover his premature balding. As the trend began in royalty, they developed an upper-class, conservative status.
What is the point of a judges wig?
Many of the judges and barristers who wear wigs in court say the headpiece — also known as a peruke — brings a sense of formality and solemnity to proceedings. Lawyers in Hong Kong still wear garb that calls back to their days as a colony.
Why do judges wear fake hair?
Until the seventeenth century, lawyers were expected to appear in court with clean, short hair and beards. Wigs made their first appearance in a courtroom purely and simply because that’s what was being worn outside it; the reign of Charles II (1660-1685) made wigs essential wear for polite society.
What is a female judge called?
Judges of the High Court and Court of Appeal are addressed (when sitting in those courts) as “My Lord” or “My Lady” and referred to as “Your Lordship” or “Your Ladyship”.
Do judges wear wigs with syphilis?
Five years later, the King of England—Louis’s cousin, Charles II—did the same thing when his hair started to gray (both men likely had syphilis). Courtiers and other aristocrats immediately copied the two kings. They sported wigs, and the style trickled down to the upper-middle class.