My father, who retired from 42 years of practicing law in 2020 (annus horribilis), taught me this term before I was even a first year law student.  Now that I have been practicing for 12 years, I have seen my fair share of it in person.

WHAT IS IT?

Black Robe Syndrome (BRS) occurs when lawyers, who have become judges, believe that they have also become infallible, thanks to the robe and being called “your honor.”

WHERE IS IT?

BRS tends to be more prevalent in local District Courts.**  Unlike the Superior Court, where judges are periodically rotated amongst the counties, District Court judges can preside over the same court (and same courtroom) for years upon end.  In such circumstances, judges become so familiar with their surroundings, they sometimes forget that they are, in fact, public servants.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of Black Robe Syndrome include:  arrogance, snide comments, short temper, outbursts of shouting, failure to read motions and general unpleasantness.

PROGNOSIS

As of now, despite great progress in medical and psychological development, there is no known cure.  Instead, litigants, especially criminal defendants, are advised to approach with caution; avoid interrupting, using casual language, or asking too many questions.

PROTECT YOURSELF

To protect yourself from BRS, it is advisable to hire an attorney who is familiar with the local scene.  Hiring an attorney is admittedly expensive, but will reveal itself to be well worth it when BRS-impacted judges direct their wrath at said attorney, not you.  If you or a loved one is suffering due to a BRS-impacted judge, I am happy to take it, for the right price.  Contact me now.

 

** Thankfully, most judges do not fall victim to this malady.