Judge facts for kids
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John Jay, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (1789–95)
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| Occupation | |
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| Names | Judge, freedom, justice, and magistrate |
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Occupation type
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Profession |
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Activity sectors
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Law, Justice |
| Description | |
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Education required
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University degree in law and experience as a lawyer |
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Fields of
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Courts |
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Related jobs
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Barrister, prosecutor |
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and, typically, in an open court. The judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers of the case, assesses the arguments of both of the parties, and then issues a ruling on the matter based on his or her interpretation of the law and his or her own personal judgment. In some jurisdictions, the judge's powers may be shared with a jury.
Functions
The ultimate task of a judge is to settle a legal dispute in a final and public manner, and uphold the rule of law. Judges exercise significant governmental power. They can order police, military or judicial officials to execute searches, arrests, imprisonments, seizures of property or money, deportations and similar actions. However, judges also supervise that trial procedures are followed, in order to ensure stability, equal treatment and avoid any irrational behaviour. The powers of a judge are checked by higher courts such as appeals courts and supreme courts.
Before the trial, a pre-trial investigation collecting the facts has been conducted by police officials, such as police officers and coroners, prosecutors or public procurators. The court usually has three main legally trained court officials: the judge, the prosecutor and the defence attorney.
Judges may work alone in smaller cases, but in criminal, family and other significant cases, they work in a panel. Judges are often assisted by law clerks, official's and by bailiffs or similar with security.
Judge as an occupation
There are both volunteer and professional judges. A volunteer judge, such as an English magistrate, is not required to have legal training and is unpaid. A professional judge is required to be legally educated; in the U.S., this generally requires a degree. Judges are often appointed by the head of state. In some U.S. jurisdictions judges are elected in a political election. Equal treatment (impartiality) is often considered important for rule of law.
Judges must be able to research and process sizeable lengths of documents and other case material, understand complex cases and possess a thorough understanding of the law and legal procedure, which requires excellent skills in logical reasoning, analysis and decision-making. Excellent writing skills are also a necessity, given the authority of the documents written. Judges work with people all the time; by the nature of the job, good dispute resolution and interpersonal skills are a necessity. Judges are required to have good moral character, i.e. there must be no history of crime.
Symbols of office
A variety of traditions have become associated with the rank or occupation. Gavels (a ceremonial hammer) are used by judges in many countries, to the point that the gavel has become a symbol of a judge. In many parts of the world, judges wear long robes (often in black or red) and sit on an elevated platform during trials (known as the bench).
American judges frequently wear black robes. American judges have ceremonial gavels, although American judges have court deputies or bailiffs and contempt of court power as their main devices to maintain good behaviour in the courtroom. In some of the Western United States, like California, judges did not always wear robes and instead wore everyday clothing. In Italy and Portugal, both judges and lawyers wear particular black robes.
In some countries, especially in the Commonwealth of Nations, judges wear wigs. The long wig often associated with judges is now saved for ceremonial occasions, although it was part of the standard dress in previous centuries.
Images for kids
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17th century Spanish judge in full gowns, by Velázquez.
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These drawings were taken from life in 1758. From left to right, top row: 1. Interpreter, Rhowangee Sewagee. 2. Judge of the Hindoo Law, Antoba Crustnagee Pundit. 3. Hindoo Officer, Lellather Chatta Bhutt. From left to right, bottom row: 4. Officer to the Mooremen, Mahmoud Ackram of the Codjee order or priesthood of the cast of Moormens. 5. Judge of the Mohomedan Law, Cajee Husson. 6. Haveldar, or summoning Officer, Mahmound Ismael'.
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Róbert Ragnar Spanó, president of the European Court of Human Rights.
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The United States Supreme Court in 2010.
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Susan Kiefel, Chief Justice of Australia
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Judges of the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil.
See also
In Spanish: Juez para niños
