
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
- Another Law Firm Dumps The Trump Legal WorkLaw firm Morgan Lewis & Bockius previously handled tax law representation for former president Donald Trump and his company have […] More
- Facebook for Lawyers – Is A Facebook Group A Good Idea For A Law Firm (And If So, How Do You Create One Easily?)Facebook groups are potentially a hugely effective way to attract attention to your law firm – provided you set it […] More
- The Twin Lawyers With Equal Passion For Maori Legal IssuesThe twin 23-year-old girls inspired by their non-lawyer father’s arguments for Maori Land Rights has seen them develop their respective […] More
- FIFA Files Criminal Complaint Against Sepp BlatterWorld soccer’s governing body Fifa say they have filed a criminal complaint with Zurich’s cantonal prosecutor, claiming evidence of “criminal […] More
- When your child follows you into the lawDeborah Hart* 63 years to the day after my family found sanctuary in New Zealand, I am on my […] More
- Trump Lawyer’s Alleged Harassment From Big Law KirklandsA Philadelphia lawyer running her own firm and representing Donald Trump’s campaign has complained of harassment from Kirkland & Ellis, […] More
- The Various ‘Firsts’ Achieved By Kamala Harris’s Lawyer HusbandThe husband of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, will sever ties with DLA Piper by Inauguration Day according to a Biden […] More
- The Attorney Holding Up A Smooth Trump TransitionThere would not be many people who have heard of Emily Murphy before the presidential election that saw Joe Biden […] More
- Una’s Joyless Day: Crown Law & Solicitor General Attacked Over Abuse ClaimsThe Solicitor General, Una Jagose QC and Crown Law came under vociferous attack during the hearings into historic abuse claims […] More
- Heard of ‘Ecocide?’ Is It The Latest Environmental Law Growth Area?
- Morgan Lewis: Biden Administration Issues Order on Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
- Another Law Firm Dumps The Trump Legal Work
- Employment Litigation Partner Joins Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck in LA
- What Is Facebook Doing About Donald Trump’s Suspended Facebook and Instagram Accounts – And Should We Even Care?
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