Judge Keith Silver is a trial judge presiding over the trial of serial rapist Alex Merritt. A legal fundamentalist, Judge Silver had a serious problem with prosecutor Ben Stone emphasizing Merritt's psychopathic recidivism demonstrated in a tape of Merritt raping Dr. Elizabeth Olivet.
When the jury returned with a guilty verdict, he chastised the jury due to their overlooking Merritt's exaggerated stature as a gynecologist. As he found the verdict unfit and unjust despite the evidence to the contrary, primarily from the aggressive prosecution meant to rightfully smear Merritt, Judge Silver overruled and dismissed the verdict, releasing Merritt. When Merritt was retried after fifty-four women came forward with sexual violence and assault reports, Merritt took a plea to life in prison. (L&O: "Helpless")