It is one of the most distinctive traditions of English courts that judges and lawyers wear wigs in court. In some former British colonies deeply influenced by the British judicial system, we can also see this cultural imprint with British characteristics, such as the China Special Administrative Region.
Early wigs were made of human hair, such as debtor's hair to pay off debts, or even the hair of the dead. At that time, in court, the smell of all kinds of wigs was so suffocating that judges sometimes had to bring a bunch of flowers to solve it. This situation continued until 1822 Humphrey? Humphrey Ravenscroft invented the process of making wigs with ponytails.
Commonwealth lawyers wear wigs when they appear in court or attend major ceremonies, because it was popular at that time, and there was no mandatory legal requirement. Hundreds of years later, wigs are no longer fashionable, but they have become the old-fashioned image of legal persons following the tradition. Moreover, wigs are unsanitary, too hot, stinging and even ridiculous. However, it is hard to say change. People habitually associate wigs with status, identity and even justice. After lawyers were granted the right to appear in court, they failed to negotiate with the House of Lords many times because they were not qualified to wear wigs. Many defendants also preferred barristers who could wear wigs to defend them. It is said that wearing a wig is directly related to the ability to convince the jury.