Meanings
nounpurple judge (plural purple judges)
plural purple judges
- UKlawA circuit court judge.
The criminal defendant sees a difference between a 'red judge' and a purple judge.
2012, David Kelly, Gary Slapper, Sourcebook on English Legal System, page 174
Origin
So called because in most cases their dress code would include a purple or lilac robe or sash or tippet of some kind.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
purple judge. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/purple%20judge
MLA
“purple judge.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/purple%20judge. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “purple judge,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/purple%20judge.
Source: purple judge on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.