Judge

From ArticleWorld

A Judge is a public official authorized to decide questions brought before a court of justice. In a more general way, the expression may be used for any person who judges – contests, competitions or matches.

As the head of the judiciary branch, judges are assumed to be impartial and above being swayed by exogenous factors. In the common law countries judges are chosen from within the lawyer fraternity and do not need any training apart from their experience as a lawyer to qualify as a judge. In countries where civil law is practiced judges may require to study at special schools for judges after being trained along with lawyers in a usual law school. This training enables them to enact the role of investigative magistrates.

Place in court

In the common law states the guilt or innocence of the defendant is decided by a jury made up of members who are picked randomly from among the general public. This jury settles the questions of fact - apart from guilt the damages to be claimed are finalized by the jury – while the judge decides questions of law. In many famous criminal cases juries have been responsible for returning verdicts contrary to typical public opinion. In common law, a judge’s verdict is considered final and binding for bench trials and summary judgments. In Finland, for many criminal cases, apart from a legally trained judge, three lay judges (with no special training in law) are present in court, each of them having an individual vote to decide the guilt or innocence of the defendant. These judges are elected to their post for a term of four years. In a civil case only a legally trained judge presides over the court.

Attire and Title

Judges of yore wore powdered wigs and long black robes; in most countries wigs for judges have mostly been either dispensed with or have been replaced by smaller versions. Although in most countries judges still continue to wear the robes in many American states it is not binding for a judge to wear them; instead, they preside over the court wearing normal street clothes. In China since 1984, judges have begun to wear military uniforms, presumably to have a more authoritarian impact.

In America and many other countries judges of the higher court are addressed as ‘Your Honor’ while the judges of the lower court are addressed as Mr./Ms. In England they are addressed as ‘Your Lordship/Ladyship’ and ‘Your Honor’ (for lower courts). French Judges are addressed as Mr./Ms. President. Judges of various courts in different capacities are also addressed as ‘Chancellors’ and ‘Referees’.