All rise...

I was talking the other week about the need to distinguish between the person and the office he or she holds, and now the question has arisen again with this discussion about whether or not judges should continue to wear wigs and traditional robes, or go for something more modern and trendy. I remember a judge saying "when I robe and put my wig on, I cease to be me, and become The Law". A little pompous perhaps, but there's more than a grain of truth in what he said. The wig and gown represent the office of judge and the dignity and respect which go along with it. I think we dispense with that at our peril.