The decoration in judges' chambers can reflect their personalities. I have seen many unique collections and displays and have heard wonderful stories from judges describing the significance of these items to their lives, but is this a factor when courthouse planning?
Over the past 25 years, I have observed that many courtrooms have one thing in common: they all focus on the basic principles of the American judicial system as their predominant design characteristic. I have seen judges select artwork for the courtroom and some furnishes and finishings. I have also seen courtrooms reflect the character of the period in which they were constructed or in response to their regional location. However, while courtrooms may rarely take on the personality of the judges that use them, the same cannot be said for their chambers.
In a way, it is unfortunate for the public not to be able to see our judges' varied and often fascinating personalities. I am lucky in this regard since I have had the opportunity to tour many judges' chambers, where their personalities are usually on full display. Here are a few examples that have impressed me over the years.
Let’s begin with the judge as an art collector, of which there are quite a few. When I visited a judges chambers in a courthouse along the West Coast, I was not surprised to see the regionally representative glass sculpture shown below. Still, I was surprised to learn from the judge that it was Chihuly, the foremost American glass artist. The judge had impeccable taste in art, and it was indeed a museum-quality piece of art glass.
During a visit to a Mid-West courthouse, I was fascinated with a display of a dozen highly detailed model fighter planes in a judges chambers. I was impressed since I built models as a kid. I asked the judge if he had assembled them himself. “No,” he replied, “but I did fly each plane as a Navy pilot.”
The variety of judges’ personalities that I have seen reflected in their chambers collections during my courthouse tours has been nearly endless. Here are a few of the displays and collections I have encountered:
This list could go on for many pages, but it provides a sample of some unique things found behind chambers doors.
Many judges enjoy hunting and have elaborate displays in their chambers. I have included pictures below of trophy animals mounted on chambers walls.
The judges chambers visit that was the most memorable for me was in a Western courthouse. As I opened the door to the chambers suite, I was confronted by an eight-foot-tall grizzly bear, complete with a menacing snarl. This was no Teddy Bear. As I learned from the judge, this was a trophy from a hunt in which the outcome had nearly been, “and sometimes the bear gets you.”
As always, I look forward to my next visit to any judges chambers. You never know what you’ll find there!
