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.

The judge generally sits behind a raised desk, known as the bench. Behind the judge are the great seal of the jurisdiction and the flags of the appropriate federal and state governments. Judges usually wear a plain black robe (a requirement in many jurisdictions).

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.