Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates

What the job really is

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

At a glance

• Sector: Legal
• O*NET-SOC code: 23-1023
• O*NET job zone: 5 — extensive preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Sentence defendants in criminal cases, on conviction by jury, according to applicable government statutes.
• Monitor proceedings to ensure that all applicable rules and procedures are followed.
• Instruct juries on applicable laws, direct juries to deduce the facts from the evidence presented, and hear their verdicts.
• Write decisions on cases.
• Read documents on pleadings and motions to ascertain facts and issues.
• Rule on admissibility of evidence and methods of conducting testimony.
• Preside over hearings and listen to allegations made by plaintiffs to determine whether the evidence supports the charges.
• Award compensation for damages to litigants in civil cases in relation to findings by juries or by the court.
• Advise attorneys, juries, litigants, and court personnel regarding conduct, issues, and proceedings.
• Research legal issues and write opinions on the issues.
• Interpret and enforce rules of procedure or establish new rules in situations where there are no procedures already established by law.
• Issue arrest warrants.

Tools and technology

Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Computer laser printers, Courtroom microphones, Courtroom scheduling software, Desktop computers, Digital audio recorders, Digital video players

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
• Judicial Law Clerks
• Lawyers
• Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
• Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
• Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
• Paralegals and Legal Assistants
• Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 5 (extensive preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.