With the Bar deciding to retain horse hair wigs and eighteenth century court dress… I just could not resist this post from the Sixth Form Law website.
I particularly enjoyed this quote from the SixthForm website: “The horsehair wig costs £1,295. Still included at £89 is a black cloth sentence cap, which judges used to put on to pass the death sentence.”
I must ask Geeklawyer, when I do a podcast with him (as is planned), if he was offered a black cloth sentence cap at £89 when he bought his wig etc etc upon return to private practice.
The black cap is still required as part of a QBD judge’s garb. Now I’ve not seen anything in the LCJ’s proposed Practice Directive on judicial dress which is actually going to change this.
http://sixthformlaw.info/04_images/lord_phillips.jpg
The black thing he is holding is said £89 cap.
I am mystified as to why barristers want to give up their wigs. To pacify solicitors so you can all become Tesco lawyers together?
The policeman’s hat, the soldier’s bearskin…
shall we all just wear trekky bottoms instead and get on with making the yoofs happy?
Loath as I am to agree with the filth PC Bitseach has it right. Though in truth it is not the Bar that wishes to give up wigs, rather it is trendyism making everything ‘accessible’. But, frankly, would you wish to take tea at the Ritz if Wayne and Sharon were there?
Let Solicitor-Inadequates do without, we at the Bar must remain at the top of the pecking order and must be seen to be with the aid of wigs if need be.