They may be relics these days, but for barrister Ray Broomhall, the collection of wigs is part of a desire to retain a slice of legal history. But at the same time this barrister has successfully fought against something far more modern than the wigs of old.
As wigs are now part of legal history in most of both Australian and New Zealand courts, the Tasmanian barrister recognises that they also represent the legal characters who wore them.
Mr Broomhall said he would like to get his hands on former justice of the High Court Michael Kirby’s wig.
“I’d love to have one of his wigs — whether his barrister wig or one that he wore in the High Court. That would be to me the ultimate,” he said.
He would not put a price on how much he has spent on his unusual collection.
“It’s not the wig itself — it’s the people behind the wig,” he said.
“The story behind each wig is absolutely amazing, and they’re priceless when you think of the stories behind them.”
Taking pride of place in his collection is the wig worn by Thomas Strangman when he successfully prosecuted Indian civil rights leader Mahatma Gandhi for sedition in 1922.
“There was actually a big court case that said you can’t trade in human body parts, so barristers were walking around with human-hair wigs and they found they had to go to horsehair,” Mr Broomhall said.
While the more modern wigs follow a pattern which includes a set guide of the number of side curls for barristers and back curls for judges, each wig is subtly different.
The wigs’ individual quirks give a special insight into the wearer.
Full-bottomed wigs for judges have been phased out — even for ceremonial occasions — in Tasmania.
The now-retired wigs are still housed at the Supreme Court of Tasmania in Hobart. Registrar Jim Connolly is the keeper of Supreme Court of Tasmania judges’ wigs.
“They’re part of our legal history,” Mr Connolly said.
“These wigs are handmade. They are made of horsehair and they are fitted to the particular judge’s head that they need to adorn.
The Barrister’s Fight Against 5G
Barrister Broomhall is not just about collecting and retaining a slice of legal history however. He has also spearheaded a successful legal fight against the introduction of the 5G network in Australia with his ‘Say No’ campaign.
The basis for the Broomhall opposition to 5G is the dangers alleged to emanate from magnetic fields and he has spoken widely across Australia about the dangers and the opposition to the implementation of the 5G network.
Source: ABC
Other Law News
- The Bankruptcy Law Star And Why She Loves What She DoesBankruptcy law may not sound like the sort of legal work that many aspirational lawyers would necessarily seek out as …
The Bankruptcy Law Star And Why She Loves What She Does Read More »
- The Law Firm Debt Collector – What Law Firms Need To Know About Debt CollectionLaura Symes* The question of whether a law firm can act as a debt collector arises occasionally and gives rise …
The Law Firm Debt Collector – What Law Firms Need To Know About Debt Collection Read More »
- How Smart Was Joe Biden At Law School?The question was recently asked in a Quora post and – surprisingly or not – it seems that Joe Biden …
- ‘Who Wants To Be A Trump Lawyer?’Trump will be asking ‘Where’s my Roy Cohn?’ After reporting on Trump’s new lawyer Evan Corcoran, the search for a …
- Key Tactics To Win At Law Firm Online Marketing . . . So Effective They Should Be IllegalLaw firm online marketing requires a combination of a well thought-out marketing plan, a well established idea of your target market and a well executed online marketing program.
- NZ’s Space Law Growth: Including for Space LawyersThe development of companies like RocketLab, the explosion of drone manufacturing and use and New Zealand’s increased focus on Space …
NZ’s Space Law Growth: Including for Space Lawyers Read More »
- From New York to New Zealand – Former Lawyer of the Year Receives Honour for Pro Bono and Corporate WorkMany lawyers have a social conscience, perhaps more than any other professional group, but for corporate lawyer Stacey Shortall, a …
- Depp Lawyer Camille Vasquez Provides Inspiration for WomenThe Johnny Depp lawyer who won his defamation case, Camille Vasquez, has received her inevitable promotion to partnership from her …
Depp Lawyer Camille Vasquez Provides Inspiration for Women Read More »
- Wellbeing and Mental Health in the Law: Clifford Chance Introduce First Wellbeing ChiefWellbeing and mental health issues with law firms has been an issue of increasing significance and law firms are beginning …
Wellbeing and Mental Health in the Law: Clifford Chance Introduce First Wellbeing Chief Read More »
- Elite Woman Power Lawyer To Leave Minters For New Role
- Latham & Watkins Releases Second Edition of The Book of Jargon® — Blockchain, Crypto & Web3
- IRS Gets Court Orders For US Taxpayers Failing to Pay Taxes on Cryptocurrency Transactions
- LawList – The Largest Law Firms in Boston
- The Trump Family Lawsuits Feud With New York’s Attorney General Letitia James
This article is inaccurate. There is no legal precedent against emitters of EME in Australia. The first case tested the Maroochydore magistrates court Jan-20
was dismissed by the judge who referred to the “method” as “incompetent”.
This method did also not stop the TPG roll-out in Australia. It was halted due to the Huawei ban and the ACCC initially blocking the merger between TPG and VHA. Now that the merger can proceed, the rollout of small cells will resume.
I did a workshop with Ray having heard about his loss in the courts in Queensland. I am disappointed as I can’t see how any of the methodologys he suggested could be used. Am i right.? This question relates to 5G
That’s right – it’s giving those concerned false hope