No wigs for barristers in Federal
Court of Australia (8 December 1998)
Barristers
will no longer wear wigs in the Federal Court from
the beginning of the new law term in February 1999.
The move follows
a decision four years ago by Federal Court judges to
cease wearing wigs. Chief Justice Michael Black said
that the latest move was strongly supported by the
judges and represented an evolutionary step in court
dress in the Federal Court.
He said that
it followed widespread consultation with professional
associations representing barristers and solicitors
throughout Australia.
“Given that the judges
of the Federal Court no longer wear wigs, it is appropriate
that barristers appearing in our court no longer wear
them either.”
“We
have taken the view that wigs are no longer appropriate
and relevant in the Federal Court.”
He said arguments
in favour of wearing wigs in criminal trials or in
family law matters did not apply in the Federal Court
as its work was essentially non-criminal and did not
deal with family law cases.
He noted
that wigs were no longer worn in any civil cases in
Tasmania, and the wearing of wigs was discontinued
some time ago in all courts in New Zealand.
The Federal
Court deals with mainly civil cases arising under federal
law, including cases in the fields of trade practices,
maritime law, native title, bankruptcy, immigration,
taxation and intellectual property.
