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Career Details : Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates

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Description

Arbitrate, advise, adjudicate, or administer justice in a court of law. May sentence defendant in criminal cases according to government statutes. May determine liability of defendant in civil cases. May issue marriage licenses and perform wedding ceremonies.

Experience

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Education

A bachelor's degree is the minimum formal education required for these occupations. However, many also require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Training

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Tasks

  • Listens to presentation of case or allegations of plaintiff.
  • Instructs jury on applicable law and directs jury to deduce facts from evidence presented.
  • Sentences defendant in criminal cases, on conviction by jury, according to statutes of state or federal government.
  • Conducts preliminary hearings in felony cases to determine reasonable and probable cause to hold defendant for further proceedings or trial.
  • Examines evidence in criminal cases to determine if evidence will support charges.
  • Rules on admissibility of evidence and methods of conducting testimony.
  • Performs wedding ceremonies.
  • Settles disputes between opposing attorneys.
  • Awards judicial relief to litigants in civil cases in relation to findings by jury or by court.
  • Establishes rules of procedure on questions for which standard procedures have not been established by law or by superior court.

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    Important Abilities

    General Work Activities

    Important Skills

    Frequent Work Context

    • Job-Required Social Interaction
    • Consequence of Error
    • Objective or Subjective Information
    • Deal With External Customers
    • Indoors

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