All Rise, Rock and Roll

They look like a bunch of mobsters.

They wear dark suits and darker sunglasses, have nicknames like Trash Can and Top Dog and brag about how they fought the law (and the law won).

The thing is: They are the law.

Stoic stewards of the Constitution by day in D.C. Superior Court, they are by night (or weekend, or whenever they feel the urge) Deaf Dog and the Indictments -- a guitar-heavy group of seven music-loving judges, anchored by the lone civilian among them, a ponytailed shrink on drums.

They aren't picky about where they play. All they ask for is a little space and a little bit of love.

The love might take some work tonight, when the band is to perform at the Fraternal Order of Police lodge -- in front of a crowd of cops, prosecutors and defense lawyers.

But it was in plentiful supply last weekend, when the band played its first show in months -- at the Armed Forces Retirement Home.

Strutting onto the stage Saturday afternoon in Blues Brothers-black, Dawgg (aka Judge William Jackson) and the rest of the Indictments had more space than they needed -- 100 or so people were spread out in an auditorium built for lots more.

"Let the good times roll," Dawgg announced, launching into the classic from B.B. King, as Dennis "Red Dog" Doyle on lead guitar let out a howl of approval.

It was to be a trip back to the 1950s and '60s, with the music of Wilson Pickett, Ben E. King and, of course, The King himself.

Unsure what to make of their guests, more than a few of the retirement home's residents sat toward the back, as if they were at a Sunday service they feared might go on too long. Dancing in the aisles they were not, but with each song, the restlessness seemed to fade just a little bit.

Even a few fellow judges turned out, eager to see how the band had progressed since its debut last spring during a talent show at the judges' annual retreat.