Judge

Job Description

Judges have one of the most important roles in the sphere of criminal justice because the decisions they make from the bench profoundly affect people’s lives. A judge who presides over civil trials has the final say in settling legal disputes, sometimes awarding one party monetary damages for harm done by another party. Judges also decide which parent gets primary custody of children after a divorce and the conditions of visitation and child support. In the absence of a jury, judges consider the evidence and arguments presented to them by attorneys to determine a person’s guilt or innocence during a criminal trial and assess punishment for convicted criminals. Appellate judges have the power to overturn decisions made in lower courts. All judges maintain order in courtrooms and ensure that the proper legal processes are taking place. The most influential judges in our nation, U.S. Supreme Court justices, are tasked with interpreting the laws of the nation, including founding documents such as the U.S. Constitution.

Educational Requirements

The majority of judges were lawyers at some point in their career, which means they have studied extensively to earn a law degree, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While the bare minimum schooling required for being a judge is a bachelor’s degree, your job opportunities at this level of education will be limited, the Bureau maintains. Most state and federal judgeships require candidates to be lawyers. To become licensed to practice law, you must complete a four-year undergraduate program, successfully take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), be accepted into law school, complete a three-year law degree and pass the Bar Exam in your state. At this point, you are licensed to practice law in your state and gain the crucial experience in the legal field you will need to prepare yourself for a career as a judge.

Career Outlook and Salary

Becoming a judge is no easy task. Competition for open judgeships can be great because they are positions of great power, especially at the federal level. For elected positions, such as at the state district court level, politics come into play, and you must convince voters that you are the best person for the job. Employment of judges is only supposed to increase by 4 percent between 2008 and 2010, according to the Bureau. Another hurdle is the fact that judge turnover is very low, with most judges remaining in their positions until they retire. However, you have the potential to earn a high salary as a judge, depending on the level of judgeship you seek. The median yearly salary for judges and magistrates was $110,220 in May 2008, according to the Bureau. The top 10 percent of all judges earned more than $162,140, while the bottom 10 percent earned less than $32,290. Judges employed in state government fared better than judges employed in local government in terms of salary.