Black Robe Fever: The Role of the Judge in American Society

"'Black Robe Fever' ... brings out every latent character defect in an individual." "Black Robe Fever" or "Robe-itis"-the syndrome from which elevation to a judicial position generates arrogance and disdain for the perspectives of others-is seldom addressed or corrected. In fact, one jurist defined "Black Robe Fever" as the process by which "donning a 'judicial robe' brings out every latent character defect in an individual." Author Steven I. Platt, who served for 30 years on the Bench of t...