By Charles Kramer
Have you ever wondered why judges wear robes of black?
Why you never see bright colors on their backs,
and why their appearances seem to have a somber tone?
Whether there’s a reason for the things they have on?
If you’ve ever wondered whether those robes of black
show that history’s dressers thought like Johnny Cash
I can assure you that from history’s clues
It appears, in fact, the opposite’s true.
The robes were to show they were not poor and beaten down,
Livin’ in the hopeless, hungry side of town
Cuz judges were picked from those with money and power,
and they dressed to show it during their judging hours.
Though originally fur and quite the scene
the robes turned black when English judges mourned a queen
named Mary the Second for several years
and never went back when they’d dried their tears
When America later pried itself away
from the English traditions and went our own way
Jefferson wanted to throw black robes to the curb
But Adams, the lawyer, thought that absurd
So a deal was cut between the two men of stature
and powdered wigs were put out to pasture
but robes of black remained the rule–
a part of the American system’s tools,
and now, centuries later, the tradition stays.
I’m sure modern judges would love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything’s OK,
but there’s somethin’ to be said for tradition’s track
so, for now at least, our judges remain... dressed in black
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Under Analysis is a nationally syndicated column. Charles Kramer is a principal of the St. Louis, Missouri law firm Riezman, Berger, P.C. You may direct comments or criticisms about this column to the Levison Group c/o this newspaper, or direct to the Levison Group via e-mail, at comments@levisongroup.com.
© 2010 Under Analysis L.L.C.
