Watching the ICC hearings in The Hague on the lawsuit against Israel filed by South Africa raises the question: Why do judges and lawyers wear wigs?
The judges enter the ICC in The Hague // Netael Bandel
The tradition of wearing a wig for judges and lawyers stems from the dress code of the 17th century in Britain. Wigs became a popular fashion item during the reign of King Charles II (1660-1685), especially among the upper classes of the time.
At the time, the wig was seen as a symbol of authority, and jurists would wear the wigs both inside and outside the courtroom to show their status and power. Today, wigs are still common in courtrooms in some countries, such as the United Kingdom. Jurists from those countries who participate in the hearings in The Hague maintain the tradition that comes from their country and wear wigs even when they are in Holland, the seat of the International Court of Justice.
Keep the tradition that comes from their country and wear a wig even when they are in the Netherlands. The debate in The Hague, this week, photo: AFP
Hiding the natural hair of jurists encourages a sense of equality and objectivity. It can also be said that wearing a wig improves the judges' appearance and helps convey the message that their personal appearance will not affect the perception of justice. Many of the judges and lawyers who wear wigs say the headscarf creates a sense of formality and solemnity in the courtroom.
At first glance, this may seem ridiculous, but wearing the wig is similar to the black robes of judges and other Israeli judges, which we also inherited from the British.
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