At the very front of the courtroom is the judge’s “bench.” It’s not an actual bench. It’s usually a raised platform with a partial rail or enclosure that the judge sits behind. Near the bench, you will also find a secured door. The judge and courtroom personnel may use this secured door to access the judge’s chambers or other offices.

The judge's bench is the raised wooden desk or podium at the front of the courtroom where the judge sits. It's raised so that the judge can control and preside over the entire room. The judge's staff sits close by so they can communicate quietly.

Bench refers to the seat where the judge sits in the courtroom, and the term is used to refer to the judge.

Front and center in the courtroom sits the bench. This is where the Honorable Judge and his or her staff sit. The bench is an elevated stage that serves as the center focal point for the rest of the courtroom. The judge sits the highest.

The bench is not a chair, but the large desk behind which a judge sits at the front of a courtroom. It is also a metaphor for the judge's role in a court proceeding.