Britain's lawyers and judges are to break with centuries-old tradition and cease wearing white horse-hair wigs in non-criminal cases, the head of the country's judiciary announced on Thursday.

The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, said new dress rules would mean the wigs, which British legal professionals have worn since the 17th century, would not be needed in civil or family court cases.

Wing collars and bands -- white cotton strips worn round the neck -- can also be dispensed with in such cases according to the reforms, while judges will need just one gown in future instead of a variety of colorful outfits currently required.

The wigs will still be worn in criminal courts.

"At present High Court judges have no less than five different sets of working dress, depending on the jurisdiction in which they are sitting and the season of the year," Phillips said in a statement.

"After widespread consultation it has been decided to simplify this."

A review carried out in 2003 found that more than two thirds of respondents wanted to eliminate the wigs in civil cases, although most said criminal court judges should still wear them.

Opponents of wigs thought they were anachronistic, as well as uncomfortable and expensive.

A shoulder-length wig costs more than 1,500 pounds ($3,000) while the shorter ones worn by lawyers cost about 400 pounds each.

However, the idea of abolishing them has met with disapproval from some lawyers who feel the wigs give them an air of authority.

"While there will never be unanimity of view about court dress, the desirability of these changes has a broad measure of agreement," Phillips said.
英國司法界領袖上周四宣布，英國的律師和法官們將告別一個沿襲了幾個世紀的傳統，在出庭審理非刑事案件時不用再戴白色的馬鬃假發。

高等法院首席法官、沃斯麥特勒佛的菲利普斯勛爵說，這一新的著裝規定意味著從17世紀起司法界專業人士開始戴的假發在今后的民事或家庭糾紛案件中不需要再佩戴了。

根據新規定，翼形領和圍在脖子上的白色棉質飾帶在此類案件中也不需要戴了；此外，今后法官在審理案件時不用再穿現在那一套五顏六色的法官服了，而只需穿一件法官袍。

但在出庭審理刑事案件時，還需要佩戴假發。

菲利普斯在一份聲明中說：“現在，英國高等法院的法官至少有五套不同的工作服，他們根據不同的司法場合和季節著裝?！?/P>

“經過廣泛征詢意見后，我們決定對此進行簡化?！?/P>

2003年開展的一項調查發現，三分之二的受訪者希望廢除民事案件中佩戴假發的規定，同時大多數人稱法官在審理刑事案件時還是應該佩戴假發的。

反對佩戴假發者認為假發已過時、戴著不舒適而且價格昂貴。

一個齊肩的假發需要1500多英鎊，律師們佩戴的短假發則需大約400英鎊。

然而，廢除假發的規定遭到一些律師們的反對，他們覺得假發能讓他們看起來有一種權威感。

菲利普斯說：“對于法庭著裝，從來不會有一致的意見。目前的這些改革得到了廣泛支持?！?/P>