The Practice (1997–2004)

Holland Taylor: Judge Roberta Kittleson

Quotes 

• Judge Roberta Kittleson : Let me be frank. The defendant is world-class scum. I'm sure he's guilty of the crime.

  Eugene Young : Well, I'm glad you have an open mind.

  Judge Roberta Kittleson : Oh please. A mind is like a wound. If it's too open, you get an infection.

• Judge Roberta Kittleson : Was anyone else present for your conversation?

  Ellenor Frutt : No.

  Judge Roberta Kittleson : Well, then, shame on you. Never interview a witness alone. This is what you get.

  Ellenor Frutt : Thank you, Your Honor. I was so hoping for a lesson.

• Bobby : Let me tell you what I know. I've always known you to be a judge who's about the law. Despite all the wacky stuff you've got going on, when you put that robe on you've always been a judge. A good one, a fair one. You pride yourself on that, where the HELL was your pride today? The district attorney delivered one of the most bigoted closings I've ever seen. And you didn't blink. The prejudice in this trial had been SCREAMING, and the loudest scream came in the form of that verdict. How in God's name can you let it stand?

  Judge Kittleson : For the record counsel, what you call bigotry, the district attorney calls motive. And she's free to argue that. Second, circumstantial evidence is enough to convict and the jury found that evidence to be compelling. It is not my function to substitute my judgment. And lastly, off the record, any man whose brother burns women alive, can't be all good. Now please leave.

  Bobby : Wow, I guess prejudice is cloaked in black robes sometimes too.

• [after Jimmy has burst into his apartment with the police only to find Judge Kittleson standing there naked] 

  Jimmy Berluti : What?

  Judge Roberta Kittleson : I came to surprise you.

  Jimmy Berluti : Oh... it worked.

• Jimmy Berluti : My client is innocent. You know it. That's probably why you're in here getting drunk.

  Judge Roberta Kittleson : Wrong again. I get drunk every night.

• Judge Roberta Kittleson : After this case is over, if you want to sit next to me, fine. We can share a drink. Who knows, I might even wet your whistle after.

  Jimmy Berluti : You're a vulgar, desperate woman.

  Judge Roberta Kittleson : All the more reason to remain a good judge, then.

• Judge Roberta Kittleson : You can write your congressman if you don't like the law, counsel. In here, we simply follow it.

• Judge Roberta Kittleson : I'm sorry, Mr. Bay. I'm not going to allow the prosecution to call defense counsel to impeach a state's witness. You got a bad bounce. You'll just have to deal with it.