Purpose of a courtroom wig??

Question

What is it excatly used for or what does it symbolise?

Answer 1

English judicial attire in its present form dates from about 1660, the time of the Restoration of the English monarchy. Upon the return of Charles II from France, the fashion of the Court of Louis XIV for powdered wigs became de rigeur for the smart members of English society. Since England had just emerged from a bloody civil war between those who wore their hair short (the "Roundheads") and those who wore their hair long (the "Beatles"), the pervasive use of wigs was an obvious way to cover over the divisions in society (as well as the occasional bald spot).
The judicial robe and barrister's gown developed much earlier. By the time of Edward III (1327-77), the fur and silk-lined robes were well established as a mark of high judicial office. Judicial costume changed with the seasons, generally green in the summer and violet in the winter, with red reserved for special occasions. [Note 2] The plain black gown was adopted by most barristers in 1685 when the bar went into mourning at the death of King Charles II. They have apparently never gotten over it.
Until the nineteenth century, the wig was not considered a particularly legal headgear. The distinctive medieval legal headdress was the coif, a piece of white linen which seems originally to have been designed to cover the tonsure of monks who were acting in a legal capacity.
By the late sixteenth century, however, all members of the legal profession wore round black skullcaps to court, with the white edges of the coif sticking out underneath. When wigs were introduced, judicial wigs had a small version of the skullcap and coif sewn into them. Law students, not yet entitled to wear wigs, continued to wear the legal skullcap for some time after the introduction of wigs, but by the early eighteenth century, it had disappeared completely. Much writing in this area tends to confuse the legal skullcap with the coif. Absent this confusion, it is possible that law school honor societies would be inducting students into the "Order of the Yarmulke."

In short, English judges and barristers began wearing wigs and robes because everybody in polite society was wearing wigs and robes in those days. They continue to wear them because nobody has ever told them to stop. Wigs are expensive, and English judges get a stipend to cover the cost of their wigs and robes. Barristers, on the other hand, must buy their own, and there is a thriving market in used wigs. It is not clear, however, that used wigs are cheaper than new ones. Tradition being what it is in Great Britain, wigs that have previously been worn by great jurists and lions of the bar acquire a certain cachet that makes them highly sought after. Of course, such pre-owned wigs may also acquire some other, less-attractive attributes, like a yellowish color or off-putting aroma. It is also not unheard of for wigs to be stolen and resold on the black market. As one barrister put it, "The courts are full of criminals."
In April 1992, there was much speculation that English judges might finally stop wearing all their ridiculous paraphernalia and slip into something a little more comfortable. The judges of the commercial court, the division of the High Court that deals with commercial litigation, were scheduled to vote on a recommendation that the wearing of wigs be abolished in commercial court proceedings. The new lord chief justice, Justice Taylor of Gosforth, was also on record as being strongly anti-wig.
It didn't happen. The commercial court judges voted not to abandon their wigs, but instead to place the whole matter before all 55 judges of the Queen's Bench Division for continued consideration and de 1000 bate. Interviewed the following day, the clerk to the chief judge of the Commercial Court stated, "I think they felt it was too big an issue for them to sit in splendid isolation." Remember, these are the judges of the highest court of original jurisdiction for commercial matters in England. Sitting in "splendid isolation," each judge frequently decides cases involving the most complex business affairs and the disposition of many millions of pounds sterling. Yet whether or not to take off their wigs in public was "too big an issue" for them to decide alone. Clearly, the judicial wig was directly connected to something deep within the English judge's psyche. The most cogent rationale for deciding not to decide, however, was provided by one of the most senior judges, the master of the rolls, Lord Donaldson. As he put it, there was no urgent need to go "discarding something which has been out of date for at least a century."

Answer 2

Wearing a peruke, or wig, became a must for English gentlemen of wealth and prestige (not just lawyers) when Charles II imported the fashion from France after the Restoration. By the 1700s, certain styles were associated with particular metiers, but even after they'd been largely shed by the 1800s, wigs continued to be worn by "the three learned professions" -doctors, lawyers, and the clergy. Today, only lawyers continue, though not by law.
In most Commonwealth nations, special wigs are also worn by lawyers (barristers and solicitors), judges, and certain parliamentary officials as a symbol of the office.

Answer 3

A judges wig doesnt symbolise anything specifically. Judges (and legal staff) started to wear wigs during the mid to late17th century,during the reign of Charles II - simply because it was fashion outside of the court.

The legal profession continued to wear wigs as it went out of fashion and took on a more established part of court dress.

The full length wig was used until the late 18th century and is now only used in ceremonial proceedings. The shorted curled wig is still used today and of course provides judges with a certain amount of gravitas. hope this answers your question :)

Answer 4

It shows a degree of stature and presense in the community 9as wigs were not cheap

Answer 5

It is meant to show importence, or that they are important in some way, shape, or form.............and no it is not to keep their heads warm.....lol : )