Six District of Columbia judges and a psychologist on a musical mission
Deaf Dog and the Indictments, advertised as “the world’s only (almost) all-judge band”, is performing Saturday, April 7, at 4pm, in the auditorium of Saint Elizabeths Hospital. The concert is free and open to the public.
After a popular concert at the Hospital last year, the band agreed to perform each year around the birthday of Dorothea Dix, the social reformer and nursing pioneer who efforts for humane treatment of people with mental illness led to the establishment of Saint Elizabeths and other hospitals in the United States and Europe. This year’s concert is billed the “Second Annual Dorethea Dix-Deaf Dog and the Indictments Birthday Bash”.
The band—which performs a mix of rock n’ roll, Motown, and the blues—is made up of six District judges and a psychologist. They are Superior Court judges Franklin Burgess “Professor”; John Campbell “Trash Can”; Russell F. Canan “Top Dog”; and William Jackson “Dawgg”, along with Magistrate judges John McCabe, “Cartwheel” and William Nooter “Blue Dog”. Former Saint Elizabeths psychologist Marc Feldman “Hound Dog” rounds out the group.
Deaf Dog and the Indictments was formed in 2005 to take part in a talent show at a court training conference. The band's name was decided after the families of band members left an early rehearsal and only a faithful family pet stayed behind. The band members took heart that the dog appreciated their unique sound—only to learn later that she was completely deaf.
The band has appeared at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, Grog & Tankard in Georgetown, and at local judicial and legal conferences.
A picture ID is required for access to the Saint Elizabeths Campus. The Hospital is located at 1100 Alabama Avenue SE adjacent to the Congress Heights Metro (Green Line). Metro riders enter the campus at Gate 6 and cars must enter at Gate 5 on Alabama Avenue.
For more information, contact Public Affairs Director Tamil Perry at (202) 299-5100 or [email protected].