Practitioners should hang up their court dress from March 2, a practice note from the Sheriffdom of Glasgow and Strathkelvin states.

Court garb will, however, be required in certain circumstances.

Sheriff Principal Turnbull states: “It is not expected that counsel or solicitors appearing will wear wigs or gowns, except when appearing in a civil hearing which involves the testimony of witnesses.”

Sheriffs will have the discretion to decide whether or not wigs and gowns should be worn in particular cases and will intimate this to practitioners in advance of any hearing.

A similar decision in the Court of Session last year provoked an outcry from Scots lawyers and a survey conducted by Scottish Legal News found that a majority of them favoured the use of court dress.

John Campbell QC told SLN last year: “Dumbing down our senior court to make it look just like any old business engagement is absolutely the wrong thing to do. Are we now to be recognised by the quality of our tailoring?”