What is a judge?

Government

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by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author

A judge is a person who oversees a court of law. The exact role of a judge depends on what country that judge works in, and what kind of court they preside over.

In the United States, the highest court is the Supreme Court. Judges in the Supreme Court (often known as justices) hear cases in which the meaning or application of a law or of the Constitution needs to be interpreted. The decision of the Supreme Court in the U.S. is final – there is no other court to which a case can go after that!

Unlike Supreme Court Justices, other types of judges are more likely to oversee trials, cases in which evidence is being presented to determine guilt or innocence. In some places, the judge will seek answers and question witnesses. In other places, this job belongs to lawyers and judges are responsible for supervising the two sides and informing the jury about relevant laws.

Judges must be fair and honest, and must make decisions and give guidance based on what is truest to the law, even if he or she does not personally agree. – Because of this, the job of a judge is very important!

You be the judge!

Being a judge is a big responsibility that requires a person to be honest, impartial, and fair. – What are some other qualities that you think a judge should have? Some good examples might include experience, compassion, and good listening skills.

Next time you find yourself in a pickle, think about how you would resolve the problem at hand if you were a judge. What is the most fair ruling you can think of??