When you run gedit as root it uses CSD (Client Side Decorations) something that is patched out in Ubuntu but apparently the patch doesn't work for root.
gedit with CSD should look like this: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tAION31T1J4/VgKtBTmqWOI/AAAAAAAAW5k/qxa5fz7qXdo/s1600/gedit-minimap.png
When you run gedit as root it uses CSD (Client Side Decorations) something that is patched out in Ubuntu but apparently the patch doesn't work for root.
gedit with CSD should look like this: http:// 2.bp.blogspot. com/-tAION31T1J 4/VgKtBTmqWOI/ AAAAAAAAW5k/ qxa5fz7qXdo/ s1600/gedit- minimap. png