Legal Definitions - hanging judge

Definition: A judge who is harsh (sometimes corruptly so) with defendants, especially those accused of capital crimes.

Example: Judge Isaac Parker, who served as a federal judge in the late 1800s in the Western District of Arkansas, was known as the "Hanging Judge" because he sentenced 160 people to death, more than any other judge in American history.

Explanation: The term "Hanging Judge" refers to a judge who is known for being particularly severe in their sentencing, especially in cases involving serious crimes like murder. Judge Parker's reputation as the "Hanging Judge" was due to the large number of death sentences he handed down during his time on the bench. This term is often used to describe judges who are seen as overly harsh or biased in their rulings, and it can have negative connotations.