THE FUSE

Many people view judges as impersonal arbiters of justice, identified by both attire and environment, wearing a black robe sitting in a courtroom high on a bench looking down on everyone else, gavel in hand. This environment certainly conveys authority, but definitely does not portray a judicial setting as comfortable, warm, relaxing, or inviting in any sense. Yet through demeanor, direction, and discretion, judges can bond with everyone in the courtroom, including the parties seeking justice, promoting a sense of fairness in both a court of law as well as within the court of public opinion.