Judge

A judge or justice is an official who presides over a court. The powers, functions, method of appointment, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. More generally, a "judge" may be a qualified person who evaluates and passes judgment on something. For example, a judge at a county fair might award prizes to the best cattle or best jam, while dog-show judges at a dog show determines which of several dogs best meets the breed standards.

Titles

In the United States, a judge is addressed as "Your Honor" when presiding over the court. The judges of the Supreme Court of the United States, and the judges of the supreme courts of several U.S. states and other countries are called "justices."

Related Topics:
United States - Supreme Court of the United States - Supreme courts - U.S. state - Justice

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The justices of the supreme courts usually hold higher offices than the justice of the peace, a judge who holds police court in some jurisdictions and who typically tries small claims and misdemeanors. However, the state of New York inverts the usual order, with the Supreme Court of the State of New York being the trial court, and the Court of Appeals being the highest court; thus, New York trial judges are called "justices," while the judges on the Court of Appeals are "judges." New York judges who deal with trusts and estates are known as "surrogates."

Related Topics:
Justice of the peace - Police - Court - Jurisdiction - Small claims - Misdemeanor - New York - Surrogate

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In England and Wales, judges of the higher courts are addressed as "My Lord" or "My Lady" and referred to as "Your Lordship" or "Your Ladyship." Circuit Judges are addressed as "Your Honour" and all lower judges, magistrates, and chairs of tribunals are addressed as "Sir" or "Madam." Magistrates were at one time addressed as "Your Worship," mainly by solicitors, but this practice is nearly obsolete. Masters of the High Court are addressed as "Master." When a judge of the High Court who is not present is being refered to they are described as "Mr./Mrs. Justice N" (written N J). In the House of Lords, judges are called Law Lords and sit as peers.

Related Topics:
England and Wales - Circuit Judges - Solicitors - House of Lords - Law Lords - Peer

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In France, the presiding judge of a court is addressed to as "Mr./Mrs. President" (Monsieur le président/Madame le président).

Related Topics:
France - President

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Judges of courts of specialized jurisdiction (such as bankruptcy courts or juvenile courts) were sometimes known officially as "referees," but the use of this title is in decline. Judges sitting in courts of equity in common law systems are called "Chancellors."

Related Topics:
Bankruptcy - Juvenile - Referee - Common law - Chancellor

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