Judge

What does a Judge do?

• Judges preside over courts of law and hold hearings to settle legal disputes.
• They inform defendants of their rights, arbitrate disputes and advise counsel and jury.
• They hear allegations, decide what evidence is admissible, listen to testimony, and advise lawyers and settle disputes.
• They instruct and direct juries concerning the law's application.
• When there is a conviction, judges set fines and determine sentences within the limits set by state and federal laws.
• Judges also may perform marriage ceremonies, do legal research, and set court and hearing procedure rules.
• Presiding over legal matters demands that judges write their case decisions.
• They research laws and regulations and decide if there is enough evidence to prosecute.
• They prepare for appeals, question witnesses, and recommend that litigants refuse or accept compromise settlements.
• They advise attorneys, juries, and court personnel and administer judicial systems.
• Judges also give instruction to the jury and work with other legal personnel.
• Judges may examine evidence in criminal cases to determine if evidence will support charges; sentence defendants in criminal cases; and award settlements to litigants in civil cases.
• Most Judges are also Lawyers.

Salary and Employment Outlook:

Occupational Outlook Handbook

Career Info Net

Typical Employers:

Federal, state, and local court systems as well as government agencies. Type of courts: county, juvenile, probate, district, U.S. Circuit Courts of appeals, U.S. District Court, U. S. Claims Court, U. S. Court of International Trade, supreme court, and U.S. magistrate, U.S. ****ruptcy, and associate judges and justices, and state court administrations.

Preparation:

All judges, except federal, are elected. If a vacancy occurs before the term expires, a new Judge will be appointed for the rest of the term. College courses should develop a broad cultural background. After undergraduate work nearly all future judges go to law school; a law degree requires three years. College coursework should include social sciences, English, public speaking, economics, and computer science. Competition for entrance into law school is keen and is based on performance in undergraduate school, work experience, and sometimes a personal interview.

Educational Program(s):

• Law

Related Programs of Study: Philosophy, Political Science, Public Administration, Speech

Web Resources:

Occupational Outlook Handbook

ONet Online

Career Info Net

WetFeet

Career Center

Career Zone

CollegeBoard.com