The Black Robe, aka Police Night Court: The Black Robe is a 30-minute American docu-drama anthology court show based on actual police night court cases. Forty-plus episodes aired on the National Broadcasting Company from May 18, 1949 until March 30, 1950. It was produced by Warren Wade and directed by Herbert Bayard Swope, Jr. Its creator and writer was Phillips H. Lord. Frankie Thomas, Sr. portrayed the judge, and John Green was the court clerk.