why do judges wear wigs and gowns???

Answer 1

Guessing that you are asking about the courts of Great Britain and her former colonies...
The tradition is centuries old. The robe was to act as a 'uniform' for the court and the wig was the fashion of the day. Over time the wig and robe outlived the fashion trends of the colonies. The wigs were dropped from the American courts, but the robe held on as a novelty. It isheld by some that the robe is to conceal the trappings of the wearer as to make the robed participants equal. In the former empire the wigs in time became more elaborate than others. A fancy wig was a bit like today's designer lables. Sometimes an extravagant wig can cots many hundreds of dollars...er pounds to several thousand. However in 2002 I believe there was a proposal on to do away with the powdered hairhats.
Ajourned...

Answer 2

The short answer is tradition. Why do school children wear uniforms? Why do vicars and priests? Soldiers, sailors and airmen? Where is the need for a paramedic to wear a uniform? He/she could just as well do their job wearing jeans and a tee shirt.

I see someone has said it is elitist. The definition of elite is: "A group or class of persons or a member of such a group or class, enjoying superior intellectual, social, or economic status" Thus, judges ARE elite, thankfully. Without only making elite members of society judges, anyone could be a judge, surely.

It is an identifying feature for a start. Also, it makes ALL judges look the same and, thus, to a degree anonymous.

Finally, it gives them a symbol of their authority.

Answer 3

tradition. Back then everyone would have worn wigs and gowns if they were once scholars I suppose, they've just kept them.

Answer 4

I don't think they should. It makes justice appear elitest. It's a hang over from when it was elitest.

Answer 5

because it makes them look glamorous

Answer 6

it's all the rage