Britain: Barristers Vs. the $270 Wig

Most European men stopped wearing wigs at the beginning of the 19th century, but British lawyers and judges have maintained the practice to this day. For their appearance in court, barristers don black robes, wing collars and short white horsehair wigs. Now a group called Lawyers Against Wigs is seeking to abolish the tradition. Members argue that the hairpieces make them look ridiculous and, moreover, are expensive. A good wig costs at least $270, a high price when half of British barristers work for government salaries that average $14,000 a year. Yet wigs seem likely to endure. Traditionalists argue that they confer dignity in court and offer convenient anonymity for any . barrister who meets an angry litigant outside.