Aamer Anwar hits out at court dress spend

Aamer Anwar

Defence lawyer Aamer Anwar said he does not support “a 16th century [sic] symbol of vanity” after it was reported that £48,000 was spent in the past five years on wigs.

He told the Daily Record: “Wigs today present an archaic image of our courts that belong in the dark ages when there was no concept of justice, with one law for the rich and one for the poor.

“I suspect the usual suspects who wear them will be up in arms defending tradition and gravitas, regarding it as a symbol of power and respect for the law.

“But at a time that the legal aid system is being decimated, they should focus on defending ‘justice’ if they really care.”

Mr Anwar, who often wears three-piece suits, which came into fashion in the 17th century, added: “Most people would be bemused to learn that such wigs came about when the rich began contracting syphilis in the 17th century and tried to hide their premature balding that resulted from contracting STIs.”

A freedom of information request revealed the bill and that an additional £35,000 was spent on gowns. A 2016 request showed that £11,000 had been spent on wigs, wig tins and gowns in the preceding three years.

Ewan McIlvride, of the Scottish Miscarriage of Justice Association, said: “My personal view is that the judiciary could be spending the cash elsewhere. Scotland’s legal aid system is on its knees and there is a very well documented crisis in attracting lawyers to undertake such work.”

A Judicial Office for Scotland spokesperson said: “Court dress of the judiciary is traditional and is a symbol supporting their authority and position.”

An SLN poll conducted in 2019 after the Lord President, Lord Carloway decided to dispense with legal dress in certain Outer House cases, found overwhelming support for the retention of wigs and gowns.

Inspired by the work of Sir Henry Raeburn, photographer David Eustace produced a portrait series on the senators in 2020 entitled Thirty Two York Place.