Judges

Lawyers.com^sm A judge's duty is to ensure the impartial administration of justice and to safeguard the legal rights of the litigants. A judge must conduct a fair and impartial hearing or trial. A judge's role is to interpret the law and make sure that the applicable procedural rules are followed in conducting the hearing or trial.

Federal Court Judges

The United States Constitution does not set any specific qualifications for becoming a federal judge, but most nominees are successful lawyers or state court judges. U.S. District Court judges, U.S. Courts of Appeals judges, and U.S. Supreme Court Justices are all appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. They are appointed for life. Congress sets the compensation for U.S. District Court judges, U.S. Courts of Appeals judges, and U.S. Supreme Court Justices.

U.S. Magistrate Judges

Magistrate judges are appointed by a federal district court for an eight-year term. Magistrate judges handle pre-trial matters in civil cases, including motions and pretrial conferences, and conduct civil trials with the parties' approval. They also conduct preliminary hearings in criminal cases and try misdemeanor criminal cases.

Administrative Law Judges

Administrative law judges (ALJ) hear cases before local, state or federal agencies, such as the Ohio Department of Public Welfare, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Federal Trade Commission. ALJs are also called hearing officers or hearing examiners. ALJs have the same authority as judges and work independently of the agency. They issue subpoenas, conduct hearings, make rulings on evidence, determine facts, and make decisions in cases involving persons or businesses that are regulated by the agency. For example, an ALJ would decide whether a person qualified for worker's compensation benefits or Social Security benefits. Most ALJs are attorneys, but being an attorney is not mandatory in some states. An ALJ's decision is reviewed by the agency, whose decision can be appealed to the courts.

State Court Judges

Some state judges are appointed but most are elected in state elections. They generally serve fixed terms ranging from four to six years. State appellate court judges may have longer terms.

Assignment to Cases

Most courts use a random selection process in assigning judges to specific cases. The goal is to give each judge a caseload that is fairly equal.

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