Nothing, but nothing, gets lawyers and judges as agitated as the wigs issue. The partial abandonment of judicial wigs – partial because the Bar decided to remain in the eighteenth century, and judges trying criminal cases retained wigs for anonymity – finally came into operation in the Michaelmas term of 2008. It took a certain amount of leverage on the part of the Chief Justice, Lord Phillips, who solved the robe problem by getting Betty Jackson to design a simple neck-to-calf affair which I, at least, think convenient and reasonably dignified.

For ceremonial dress we opted in the event to keep the full-bottomed wig, not the short one, along with the historical robes. So aficionados of flummery will still see real judges at least once a year as they cross the road in procession from Westminster Abbey to the Lord Chancellor's breakfast.

This London Review of Books Diary piece was published in 2008 shortly before the civil courts adopted the simplified costume. The light bulb joke came from Justice Rosie Abella of the Canadian Supreme Court.

Q: How many judges does it take to change a light bulb?

A: Change?